Madison Square Garden Owner ‘Neutral’ on Trump Rally Hate Speech

There was no shortage of inflammatory commentary during Donald Trump’s rally at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Sunday night — against Puerto Rican people, against Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, and others.

Variety reached out to representatives of MSG and James L. Dolan, whose family owns the venue, for comment on the statements. An MSG rep responded with the following statement.

“As a business we are neutral in political matters. We rent to either side. We don’t censor artists, performers or speakers.”

Reps noted that a fundraiser for then-Democratic candidate President Joe Biden back in March was held at Radio City Music Hall, which also is owned and operated by MSG, and raised $26 million for the campaign.

Former President Trump shouted out Dolan several times during his remarks on Sunday. “I want to thank Jim Dolan. He’s been incredible. He’s been just incredible. The job they’ve done. The job they’ve done. Thank you.” The two are longtime friends; Dolan held his wedding at Trump’s Mar-A-Lago resort in Florida.

Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin were among the notable industry figures who boosted Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris on Sunday after a speaker at Donald Trump‘s political rally at New York’s Madison Square Garden called Puerto Rico “a floating island of garbage.”

The starkly racist comment stirred outrage among prominent Puerto Ricans and many others in media and entertainment.

“There’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called Puerto Rico,” said Tony Hinchcliffe, a comedian and podcaster who was one of many speakers before Trump took the stage at the famed concert arena on Sunday evening.