# Tony Hinchcliffe
**Tony Hinchcliffe** is an American stand-up comedian, writer, and podcaster from [Youngstown, Ohio](https://www.edgepedia.org/youngstown-ohio), known for roast-style insult comedy and as the host of the live comedy podcast *Kill Tony*, which he has hosted since 2013.[1](https://apnews.com/article/25e303873fac6fde3afdab80d941230d) He has written for [Comedy Central](https://www.edgepedia.org/comedy-central) roasts, released a one-take Netflix special in 2016, and drew national attention in October 2024 for jokes about Puerto Rico at a Donald Trump campaign rally at [Madison Square Garden](https://www.edgepedia.org/madison-square-garden).[1](https://apnews.com/article/25e303873fac6fde3afdab80d941230d) • [2](https://apnews.com/article/81aaaa0748f8ab432ac7423e71fcb510)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Origin | Raised in Youngstown, Ohio; moved to Los Angeles in 2007 to pursue comedy[1](https://apnews.com/article/25e303873fac6fde3afdab80d941230d) • [3](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/tony-hinchcliffe) |
| Signature special | *Tony Hinchcliffe: One Shot*, Netflix, 2016, filmed in one continuous take[1](https://apnews.com/article/25e303873fac6fde3afdab80d941230d) |
| *Kill Tony* | Weekly live podcast hosted since 2013; amateurs and professionals perform one minute, then face the panel's criticism[1](https://apnews.com/article/25e303873fac6fde3afdab80d941230d) • [4](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kill-tony/id1042361179) |
| Roast credentials | Writer and performer on eight Comedy Central Roasts, including Snoop Dogg and Tom Brady; credited with Martha Stewart's jokes at the Justin Bieber roast[1](https://apnews.com/article/25e303873fac6fde3afdab80d941230d) |
| 2021 controversy | Used a racial slur about comedian Peng Dang in Austin; dropped by talent agency WME, gigs canceled, no apology issued[1](https://apnews.com/article/25e303873fac6fde3afdab80d941230d) |
| 2024 rally | Called Puerto Rico a "floating island of garbage" at Trump's Madison Square Garden rally, drawing criticism from both parties[2](https://apnews.com/article/81aaaa0748f8ab432ac7423e71fcb510) • [5](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/10/28/tony-hinchcliffe-comedian-trump-msg-rally/) |
| Netflix era | Three exclusive specials announced, the first debuting April 7; *Man of the People* released in 2026[6](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/pressrepublican.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/4e/e4e9fdf8-39c6-4f68-9391-8e1498c15908/67f0528f3e6c0.pdf.pdf) • [7](https://www.crbcnews.com/articles/tony-hinchcliffe) |
## Early career
Hinchcliffe began performing stand-up at the Comedy Store in Hollywood in 2007, shortly after moving to Los Angeles from Ohio.[8](https://www.laughfactory.com/comedians/TonyHinchcliffe) • [3](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/tony-hinchcliffe) He became a paid regular at the club and opened for touring comedians, including [Joe Rogan](https://www.edgepedia.org/joe-rogan) and [Jeff Ross](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeff-ross); Ross became his mentor and helped him secure writing work.[3](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/tony-hinchcliffe) • [7](https://www.crbcnews.com/articles/tony-hinchcliffe) His early television credits include Comedy Central's inaugural Roast Battle specials, HBO's *Crashing*, Comedy Central's *Unsend* and *@Midnight*, and Fusion's *All Def Roast: Snoop Dog Smoke Out*.[9](https://improv.com/hollywood/comic/tony%20hinchcliffe/) • [10](https://first-avenue.com/performer/tony-hinchcliffe/)
His first one-hour special, *One Shot*, premiered on Netflix in 2016 and was filmed in a single continuous take.[1](https://apnews.com/article/25e303873fac6fde3afdab80d941230d) • [9](https://improv.com/hollywood/comic/tony%20hinchcliffe/) As a roast writer he worked on eight Comedy Central Roasts and is credited with writing [Martha Stewart](https://www.edgepedia.org/martha-stewart)'s raunchy lines for the roast of [Justin Bieber](https://www.edgepedia.org/justin-bieber).[1](https://apnews.com/article/25e303873fac6fde3afdab80d941230d)
## Kill Tony
*Kill Tony* is a weekly live show in which comedians, professional and amateur, put their names in a bucket and those drawn perform one minute of stand-up before Hinchcliffe and co-host [Brian Redban](https://www.edgepedia.org/brian-redban) critique them alongside guest panelists.[1](https://apnews.com/article/25e303873fac6fde3afdab80d941230d) • [4](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kill-tony/id1042361179) The show began in June 2013 and was recorded at the Comedy Store in its early years.[11](https://tonyhinchcliffe.com/pages/homepage-about) • [12](https://res.cloudinary.com/dwjhoulgv/image/upload/PHL_Killers_of_Kill_Tony_-_final_press_release)
Hinchcliffe announced a move to [Austin, Texas](https://www.edgepedia.org/austin-texas), in September 2020, and the show moved with him.[7](https://www.crbcnews.com/articles/tony-hinchcliffe) Since March 2023 it has been filmed at the Comedy Mothership, Joe Rogan's Austin club, where Hinchcliffe has helped set the tone for the city's new comedy scene.[4](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kill-tony/id1042361179) • [13](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2024/10/joe-rogan-austin-comedy-club/679568/) The show's format has been described as part comedy special and part roast, with celebrity guests joining the panel.[6](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/pressrepublican.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/4e/e4e9fdf8-39c6-4f68-9391-8e1498c15908/67f0528f3e6c0.pdf.pdf) In 2026, WWE and Hinchcliffe announced *Kill Tony: WrestleMania*, a comedy special premiering on Netflix on April 20 alongside the Raw after [WrestleMania](https://www.edgepedia.org/wrestlemania), following his hosting of The Roast of WrestleMania at WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas.[14](https://corporate.wwe.com/about/news/2026/03-26-2026) • [7](https://www.crbcnews.com/articles/tony-hinchcliffe)
## Controversies
In 2021, Hinchcliffe used a racial slur about fellow comedian Peng Dang, who is Asian American, during a gig in Austin. His talent agency, WME, dropped him and several scheduled gigs were canceled. He did not apologize, telling Variety that comedians "should never apologize for a joke."[1](https://apnews.com/article/25e303873fac6fde3afdab80d941230d)
At Netflix's roast of [Tom Brady](https://www.edgepedia.org/tom-brady) in May 2024, he drew criticism for homophobic remarks and comments about slavery.[15](https://time.com/7275092/tony-hinchcliffe-netflix-comedy-specials/) He had previously made controversial jokes about Sean "Diddy" Combs, [George Floyd](https://www.edgepedia.org/george-floyd), and the Baltimore Bridge collapse.[1](https://apnews.com/article/25e303873fac6fde3afdab80d941230d)
The Madison Square Garden rally in October 2024 brought the widest attention of his career. Appearing at Donald Trump's campaign rally, he called Puerto Rico a "floating island of garbage" and made other jokes widely described as racist.[2](https://apnews.com/article/81aaaa0748f8ab432ac7423e71fcb510) [Criticism](https://www.edgepedia.org/criticism) came from both parties: Democratic vice-presidential nominee [Tim Walz](https://www.edgepedia.org/tim-walz) called him a "jack-wad," Representative [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://www.edgepedia.org/alexandria-ocasio-cortez) called the remarks "super-upsetting," and Florida Senator Rick Scott wrote that the "joke bombed for a reason."[1](https://apnews.com/article/25e303873fac6fde3afdab80d941230d) Pundits widely described the backlash as the year's "October surprise."[16](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2024/11/political-comedy-daily-show-jon-stewart-tony-hinchcliffe/680598/) Hinchcliffe responded on X that the joke had been "taken out of context to make it seem racist" and that he loved Puerto Rico and vacationed there.[1](https://apnews.com/article/25e303873fac6fde3afdab80d941230d) • [5](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/10/28/tony-hinchcliffe-comedian-trump-msg-rally/)
## Netflix specials and recent work
In 2025 Hinchcliffe signed for three exclusive Netflix specials, the first debuting on Monday, April 7.[6](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/pressrepublican.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/4e/e4e9fdf8-39c6-4f68-9391-8e1498c15908/67f0528f3e6c0.pdf.pdf) In 2026 he released *Man of the People* on Netflix and appeared in Netflix's *The Roast of Kevin Hart*, where he made a George Floyd joke that drew further backlash, which he discussed on The Joe Rogan Experience in July 2026.[7](https://www.crbcnews.com/articles/tony-hinchcliffe) • [17](https://comedyhouston.com/comedians/tony-hinchcliffe/) At the Kevin Hart roast, Chelsea Handler and Pete Davidson targeted him directly, and he pushed back publicly on reports that Handler had "lit him up."[18](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/netflix-doubles-down-on-bigotry-with-special-from-maga-comedian-tony-hinchcliffe/) • [19](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/maga-comedian-ton-hinchcliffe-whines-about-chelsea-handlers-mean-jokes/)
## Style and reception
Hinchcliffe works in the roast tradition, in which comedians needle a target with personal and often tasteless jokes, and roast comics typically argue that no subject is off limits.[1](https://apnews.com/article/25e303873fac6fde3afdab80d941230d) His own site describes him as "one of the top roasters in the world" and calls *Kill Tony* the world's top live comedy podcast since its 2013 inception.[11](https://tonyhinchcliffe.com/pages/homepage-about) Reception is sharply divided: the Apple Podcasts listing rates the show 4.4 out of 5 from about 5,800 ratings and calls it the #1 live podcast in the world,[4](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kill-tony/id1042361179) while critics of his 2026 special *Man of the People* have been harsh; Rotten Tomatoes' editorial summary says the special proves that "an obnoxious voice, a microphone, and an audience willing to laugh on cue" do not make a comedian funny.[20](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tony_hinchcliffe_man_of_the_people) His defenders within comedy include Mike Birbiglia, who noted that some outlets reported his rally joke about Puerto Rico as a statement rather than a joke.[21](https://time.com/7288041/mike-birbiglia-netflix-good-life-special-interview/) Jon Stewart, on The Daily Show, called Hinchcliffe "very funny" and defended him against coverage of the rally set.[16](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2024/11/political-comedy-daily-show-jon-stewart-tony-hinchcliffe/680598/)
## References
1. [Who is comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who insulted Puerto Rico at Trump's Madison Square Garden rally? – AP News](https://apnews.com/article/25e303873fac6fde3afdab80d941230d)
2. [Was it all a joke? How stand-up comedy helped reelect Trump – AP News](https://apnews.com/article/81aaaa0748f8ab432ac7423e71fcb510)
3. [Tony Hinchcliffe Movies on Netflix – NetflixMovies.com](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/tony-hinchcliffe)
4. [Kill Tony – Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kill-tony/id1042361179)
5. [Who is Tony Hinchcliffe, the controversial comedian at the Trump rally? – The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/10/28/tony-hinchcliffe-comedian-trump-msg-rally/)
6. [Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe offers kill – Press-Republican syndicated feature (PDF)](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/pressrepublican.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/4e/e4e9fdf8-39c6-4f68-9391-8e1498c15908/67f0528f3e6c0.pdf.pdf)
7. [Where Is Tony Hinchcliffe Now? His Netflix Special and Kill Tony Deal – CRBC News](https://www.crbcnews.com/articles/tony-hinchcliffe)
8. [Tony Hinchcliffe – Laugh Factory](https://www.laughfactory.com/comedians/TonyHinchcliffe)
9. [Tony Hinchcliffe at Hollywood Improv](https://improv.com/hollywood/comic/tony%20hinchcliffe/)
10. [Tony Hinchcliffe – First Avenue](https://first-avenue.com/performer/tony-hinchcliffe/)
11. [About – Tony Hinchcliffe official site](https://tonyhinchcliffe.com/pages/homepage-about)
12. [Killers of Kill Tony press release](https://res.cloudinary.com/dwjhoulgv/image/upload/PHL_Killers_of_Kill_Tony_-_final_press_release)
13. [How Joe Rogan Remade Austin – The Atlantic](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2024/10/joe-rogan-austin-comedy-club/679568/)
14. [WWE & Tony Hinchcliffe Partner with Netflix on Kill Tony: WrestleMania – WWE Corporate](https://corporate.wwe.com/about/news/2026/03-26-2026)
15. [What to Know About Controversial Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe – TIME](https://time.com/7275092/tony-hinchcliffe-netflix-comedy-specials/)
16. [Political Comedy, With a Side of Desperation – The Atlantic](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2024/11/political-comedy-daily-show-jon-stewart-tony-hinchcliffe/680598/)
17. [Tony Hinchcliffe in Houston: Dec 5 at The Riot Comedy Club – Comedy Houston](https://comedyhouston.com/comedians/tony-hinchcliffe/)
18. [Netflix Releases Tony Hinchcliffe Stand-Up Special Amid Backlash – The Daily Beast](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/netflix-doubles-down-on-bigotry-with-special-from-maga-comedian-tony-hinchcliffe/)
19. [MAGA Comedian Melts Down Over Chelsea Handler's Mean Roast Jokes – The Daily Beast](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/maga-comedian-ton-hinchcliffe-whines-about-chelsea-handlers-mean-jokes/)
20. [Tony Hinchcliffe: Man of the People – Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tony_hinchcliffe_man_of_the_people)
21. [Why Isn't Mike Birbiglia More Famous? – TIME](https://time.com/7288041/mike-birbiglia-netflix-good-life-special-interview/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Theater and dance › Stand-up comedy and comedians › American stand-up comedians, contemporary › Stand-up comedians born 1980 onward › Surnames A to M*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license