Derek Donovan: Trump rally comic didn't just spew racism. He called Travis Kelce 'the next OJ Simpson'

Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris for president got a lot of people fired up. Timed just moments after the vice president whupped Donald Trump in their sole debate last month, Swift’s support was probably what prompted an enormous spike in traffic to the federal Vote.org registration website — nearly half a million visitors.

But to use their favorite word to deride, some in MAGA world sure seemed to be triggered. “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT,” Trump bleated on his Truth Social social media service. Ever since, the pop star has become Public Enemy No. 1 in the eyes of many of his fans.

But Sunday at Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden, the opening act crossed yet another line in mainstream political discourse: He suggested that the Chiefs’ Travis Kelce might murder his famous girlfriend.

“I don’t know about you guys, but I think Travis Kelce might be the next O.J. Simpson,” said comic Tony Hinchcliffe. And please, spare me the whiny rationalizations: Hinchcliffe wasn’t saying the Kansas City tight end is sprinting toward a spot in the Hall of Fame alongside the Juice.

Hinchcliffe is getting lots of attention for other disgusting bits in his short set, such as calling Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage.” Or calling Jewish people cheap, or a gag about African Americans and watermelon — for real. It’s freely available all over social media, though I’m not quoting any more of it here.

This is how the Trump campaign chose to kick off its event, likely its last big hurrah before Election Day. And while operatives are furiously trying to spin their way out of it — “This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign” — the fact that Hinchcliffe was chosen to set the stage for the night is either evidence of their spectacular incompetence, or that they knew exactly what they signed up for.

Tony Hinchcliffe isn’t exactly a household name, but he’s hugely influential among his target audience — young men. He’s the co-host of the popular “Kill Tony” podcast, which mostly features A-list stand-up comics. Recent guests include Russell Peters, Tom Segura and Bert Kreischer, who routinely sell out arenas with their live shows.

But while “Kill Tony” is ostensibly about comedy, the hosts’ political proclivities aren’t hard to figure out. Looking at recent guest lists, you’ll notice far-right figures get invited to talk to its listeners. Disgraced Fox News host Tucker Carlson, fellow Trump rally speaker Dr. Phil and Jordan Peterson, an in-demand Canadian professor who vigorously opposes diversity initiatives, have all sat at the mic this year.

The world of podcasts has changed dramatically over time, as the worldwide media ecosystem continues to sort itself into niches where audiences can choose entertainment that reflects their own points of view. Several of the biggest shows are targeted at young men, understandably. One of the most popular among them is “The Joe Rogan Experience.” You might know Rogan as the onetime star of sitcom “NewsRadio” or game show “Fear Factor,” but did you realize he’s the host of a runaway hit podcast that often features hard-right guests? (Trump sat down with him Saturday.)

Two of Rogan’s pet topics are conspiracy theories and masculinity — he is an avid mixed martial artist enthusiast — and he famously weighs in on subjects he doesn’t fully understand. He was a loud early opponent to COVID-19 vaccines, and later excused himself based on his admitted ignorance: “I’m not a doctor,” he said. “I’m a f***ing moron.”

That “moron” spirit and the “I’m just kidding” rationalization when things go too far are big in the podcasting environment Hinchcliffe succeeds in, and it dovetails nicely with the message Trump is selling hard in the closing days of the election. Crude, even obscene humor is a major part of its appeal to young men who are understandably resentful about what we used to call “political correctness.” In that world, calling Puerto Rico “garbage,” or saying Vice President Harris is “sh**,” as Trump did a few days ago, isn’t shocking at all.

For the rest of us, though, suggesting that a sweet romance between two beloved public figures is going to end up in a bloodbath is still alarming to most Americans, I’m betting. Especially as the introduction to the closing argument by a Republican candidate for president of the United States.

Because I don’t believe most of us have any interest in living in a country where this vile, violent hatred is just a joke.

____

Derek Donovan is a member of The Kansas City Star’s editorial board and deputy opinion editor.

___