Reggaeton superstar Nicky Jam publicly withdrew his support for former President Donald Trump after a contentious Madison Square Garden rally where degrading comments were made about Puerto Rico. Born in Puerto Rico, the singer spoke his mind on the incident: “Puerto Rico should be respected,” informing the public that he no longer supports Trump’s policies.
Rally Remarks Spark Outrage
It came under fire after the rally was held to ramp up Trump’s campaigns for the U.S. election in 2024, during which a comedian joked about the island of Puerto Rico, belittling natural disasters and financial struggles in the island, seriously offending many in the Latino community.
Following the event, Nicky Jam-who earlier expressed his praise for Trump’s policies-wasted no time in releasing a public statement to clear himself from the former president. “I can’t support anyone who lets Puerto Rico be disrespected this way,” the star of reggaeton wrote in posts on his social media accounts. “Our people deserve dignity, not ridicule.”
Puerto Rican Solidarity and Celebrity Backlash
The decision by Nicky Jam comes amid growing criticism from a number of high-profile Latino celebrities. Bad Bunny, Ricky Martin, and Jennifer Lopez were among the first voices to rise in outrage over the tone of the rally and praise Kamala Harris for calling out offensive remarks. Their statements triggered a wave of solidarity among Puerto Rican artists and fans calling for respect toward the island and its people.
Martin posted on X, formerly Twitter, “Proud of Nicky Jam, who has taken a stand. We need leaders and public figures who represent Puerto Rico with dignity.” Bad Bunny, an eternal activist, also chimed in to support Jam’s call: “Puerto Rico over politics. Respect is not negotiable.”
Nicky Jam’s Complex Relationship with Politics
The pullback by Nicky Jam puts a fine point on the delicate balance many artists strike when wading into politics. While the reggaeton star once appreciated Trump’s economic policies, his cultural relationship to Puerto Rico and the Latino community has always lain at the core of his identity. Jam’s about-face illustrates a growing trend of celebrities reconsidering their political alliances when those alliances conflict with more personal values or community interests.
It’s a controversy that creates more friction between Latino voters and the campaign of Trump, a demographic he has tried to woo with minimum success.
Political Impact of the Withdrawal
The pullout comes at a time when both Trump and his opponents are competing in each and every crucial voter in key states. For analysts, this may have a ripple effect on the political leanings of the highly extensive fanbase of Nicky Jam across the U.S. and Latin America.
The move was welcomed by Latino advocacy groups, which said the public needed officials to stand up for respect and equality. “We applaud Nicky Jam’s courage in speaking out. His voice is powerful and will inspire others to put dignity over divisive rhetoric,” said a spokesperson from the National Puerto Rican Coalition.
A Call for Respect and Unity
In his farewell speech, Nicky Jam invited his followers to be concerned with unity and respect toward all communities. “We need to move forward with compassion, not division,” he wrote. “Puerto Rico has endured so much, and it’s time we honor its resilience.”
As the after-effects of the Madison Square Garden rally are still in full play, this daring move by Nicky Jam seems to be quite timely: “We cannot compromise cultural identity or respect, even when there are political differences.“.
