Nicky Jam, a Puerto Rican-Dominican singer who lent his voice to former President Donald Trump's campaign in September, has reversed his endorsement following an incident at Trump's Madison Square Garden rally on Sunday, where comedian Tony Hinchcliffe derogatorily dubbed Puerto Rico a "floating island of garbage."
"Never in my wildest dreams did I anticipate that just a mere month later, a comedian would rise to the stage and belittle my homeland, speaking ill of it in such a manner. As a result, I hereby rescind any and all support for Donald Trump and distance myself from any political entanglements. Puerto Rico deserves respect," Nicky Jam, whose given name is Nick Rivera Caminero, declared in a video uploaded to social media on Wednesday.
During a rally last month where Nicky Jam endorsed Trump, the latter inadvertently misidentified the singer's gender, remarking, "Latin music superstar Nicky Jam, do you know Nicky? She's hot. Where's Nicky?"
In his Wednesday post, Nicky Jam emphasized that his initial support for Trump stemmed from his belief that Trump would be robust in addressing economic issues beneficial to the Latino community.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, applauded Nicky Jam's decision, stating, "Thank you for demonstrating the courage to show, through your actions, that it's perfectly alright to change your perspective and stand up for our community."
Other prominent Puerto Rican artists have strongly condemned the remarks and, in solidarity, thrown their weight behind Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign. Bad Bunny, arguably the island's most recognized cultural ambassador, posted a video captioned with the word "garbage" on social media, showcasing the breathtaking beauty and rich history of his native island. Jennifer Lopez also announced her participation in a campaign rally alongside Harris in Las Vegas this week.
Anuel AA, another Puerto Rican artist who endorsed Trump at a separate rally in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, has remained silent regarding the comedian's controversial statements.
