Nicky Jam is withdrawing his support for Donald Trump over the comedian's “rubbish” comment about Puerto Rico

NEW YORK (AP) – Puerto Rican reggaeton singer Nicky Jam has withdrawn his support for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, a month after appearing at a rally for the candidate.

Tony Hinchcliffe, a comic who previously called Puerto Rico “trash.” a packed Trump rally in New York seems to be the catalyst.

“The reason I supported Donald Trump was because I thought he was the best thing for the economy in the United States, where there are a lot of Latinos, a lot of us Latinos, myself included, a lot of immigrants who are suffering under the economy and suffer him. As a businessman, I thought it was the best move,” Jam said in Spanish in a video statement posted to his official Instagram page.

“Never in my life did I think a comedian would come along a month later criticize my country and I speak badly about my country and that's why I renounce any support for Donald Trump and avoid any political situation. Respect to Puerto Rico, Nicky Jam.”

Representatives for Jam did not immediately respond to The Associated Press' request for comment.

While Puerto Ricans cannot vote in general elections despite being U.S. citizens, they can exert powerful influence among relatives on the mainland.

The impact of Hinchcliffe's comments is being felt on the island and elsewhere: one of the world's biggest artists, Grammy-winning Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, threw his support shortly afterwards behind Vice President Kamala Harris.

Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez, shared a video on his Instagram account on Tuesday in which he describes the origins of Puerto Rico and the importance of its residents in politics, sports and entertainment. The headline read: “Garbage.”

“We have been fighting since the first day of our existence, we are the epitome of heart and resistance,” he wrote in Spanish. “Here we stand, here we are, and for those who have forgotten who we are… don’t worry, we proudly remind you.”

Ricky Martin, who previously supported Harris, was also offended by the comment, saying on Instagram: “That's what they think about us.”

A representative for Anuel AA, Another famous Puerto Rican star who supported Trump last month said he was on tour and could not comment on Hinchcliffe's comments.

Jam, known for songs like “Travesuras”, “Voy a Beber” and the J Balvin collaboration “X” expressed support for Trump last month at a rally in Las Vegaswhere Trump apparently mistook him for a woman. “Latin music superstar Nicky Jam! Do you know Nicky? She's hot. “Where's Nicky?” he said.

As a result, the The Mexican pop-rock band Maná has removed his 2016 song “De pies a cabeza” with Nicky Jam from online platforms. “Maná does not work with racists,” the group explained the decision in an Instagram post.

Maná meets with Harris in Las Vegas on Thursday.

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Berenice Bautista contributed to this report from Mexico City.