DraftKings is reevaluating its partnership with comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, also known as “Kill Tony,” following backlash over racist jokes he made at a recent Donald Trump rally. Hinchcliffe has been a brand ambassador for DraftKings for some time, but the company is now considering his status as an ambassador in light of the controversial comments he made.
During the rally, Hinchcliffe made offensive remarks about Puerto Rico, Latinos, and used an antisemitic trope. He also made a racially insensitive comment about carving watermelons with a Black rally attendee. While Hinchcliffe defended his jokes on Twitter, stating that he made fun of everyone, the Trump campaign only took issue with his comments about Puerto Rico.
According to reports, the Trump campaign reviewed the remarks of all speakers before they were loaded into the teleprompter. One joke in which Hinchcliffe was going to refer to Vice President Kamala Harris using an offensive term was flagged and removed, but no other objectionable lines were identified before his appearance.
Hinchcliffe, who has written for Comedy Central Roasts and frequently appears on Joe Rogan’s podcast, has been promoting DraftKings on social media. However, several recent promo posts have been deleted, and his most recent mention of DraftKings dates back to June. DraftKings has stated that Hinchcliffe’s comments do not reflect the company’s views.
Despite the controversy, Hinchcliffe has continued to make media appearances, including on ESPN’s College GameDay and The Pat McAfee Show. His talent agency, United Talent Agency, has not commented on the situation.
This is not the first time Hinchcliffe has faced backlash for his comments. In 2021, he was dropped by his former agency WME after a video surfaced of him using an anti-Asian slur directed at another comedian.
The future of Hinchcliffe’s partnership with DraftKings remains uncertain as the company reviews his ambassador status in light of the recent controversy. It is yet to be seen how this situation will impact his career and future collaborations.
