Celebrated musician Jennifer Lopez defended Puerto Ricans and women at Kamala Harris’ rally in Las Vegas, following the viral spread of comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s racist jokes.
“[Hinchcliffe] has consistently worked to divide us. At Madison Square Garden, he reminded us who he really is and how he truly feels,” the pop star said about former President Donald Trump on Thursday. “It wasn’t just Puerto Ricans who were offended that day. It was every Latino in this country, as well as humanity and anyone of decent character.”
Lopez also promoted female empowerment, stating, “I believe in the power of women. I believe women have the ability to make a difference in this election. I believe in the power of Latinos, the power of our community, and the power of our votes.”
The 55-year-old singer expressed her support for the Harris campaign on Sunday after Hinchcliffe’s controversial comments at Trump’s rally in New York City. Alongside Bad Bunny and Ricky Martin, Lopez shared a video from the Harris campaign, claiming Trump does not care about Puerto Ricans living in the United States.
Earlier this month, Lopez encouraged her fans to register to vote as Election Day approached. “Your vote is your voice and your power, and our voices are louder together,” she stated in a video on October 10 in collaboration with When We All Vote. This initiative, co-chaired by Lopez, aims to change the culture around voting and increase participation in every election.
Last week, she performed a light-hearted song titled “Get Your A* Out & VOTE”* to remind people to head to the polls. Lopez also shared a clip of her and her child, Emme, performing at the 2020 Super Bowl LIV halftime show, where she wore a cape displaying the Puerto Rican flag on one side and the U.S. flag on the other. “LET’S GET LOUD … Make your voice heard in ONE WEEK,” she captioned the post. “VOTE … Nov 5th … Born in the USA … PUERTO RICO.”
Lopez previously performed at the inauguration of President Joe Biden in January 2021, and her endorsement of Vice President Harris came just days after Beyoncé endorsed Harris at her Houston rally. Addressing the audience, Lopez emphasised that she was not speaking as a celebrity or politician, but as a concerned mother thinking about her children’s future.
Meanwhile, fans expressed frustration over the absence of “Cowboy Carter” singer Taylor Swift, who endorsed Harris in September after her debate with Trump.
