The coinciding show likely sparked concern due to its ties to comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, whose remarks at a 2024 campaign rally for President Trump drew backlash.
SAN ANTONIO — Texas-born comedian Cristela Alonzo has rescheduled her April 11 stand-up show in San Antonio after learning a comedy event with controversial ties is scheduled at a venue next door on the same night. A choice she says could put her predominantly Latino following in an uncomfortable setting.
Alonzo, a native of Hidalgo, posted to Facebook Thursday afternoon announcing that her Midlife Mixtape Tour date, originally set for 7:30 p.m. April 11 at the Empire Theatre, will be moved to a different date.
In her social media post, Alonzo wrote that she had just been informed that Killers of Kill Tony, a road show featuring regulars and fan favorites from the popular Kill Tony comedy podcast, was booked for 9:30 p.m. at the adjacent Majestic Theatre the same night.
“The majority of my followers are Latino,” Alonzo wrote. “I do not feel comfortable having my people around a demo that includes people that support that atrocious things that are happening to my community…”
The Killers of Kill Tony show, part of a touring extension of the Kill Tony podcast, brings stand-up sets by a lineup of established and up-and-coming comedians to cities nationwide. The show features performers who have appeared on the long-running podcast.
What is Kill Tony and why the backlash?
Kill Tony is a live comedy podcast created and hosted by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe. It features aspiring stand-ups drawing one-minute sets and receiving live critique from Hinchcliffe and guest comics. The show has attracted millions of online viewers and a strong following among comedy fans.
Hinchcliffe has become a polarizing figure after a series of controversial remarks. In October 2024, he opened a campaign rally for then-presidential candidate Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden with a stand-up routine that included offensive comments about Puerto Ricans and Latinos. He notably referred to Puerto Rico as “a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean,” and made other remarks aimed at Latinos and Black people that drew widespread criticism.
Hinchcliffe defended the remarks on social media and on his podcast, saying they were taken out of context and that he “apologizes to absolutely nobody,” though later acknowledged that the venue and occasion may have been ill-chosen.
In her Facebook post, Alonzo said her decision to reschedule was rooted in concern for the safety and comfort of her fans, many of whom are Latino.
“I’m looking to change dates for the San Antonio show that will ensure my people have the best time and where I don’t have to cross paths backstage with anyone I don’t want to,” she wrote.
Alonzo, who first gained national attention as a writer and performer on Chelsea Lately and later through her own TV projects and stand-up specials, has in the past commented on social and political issues affecting Latino communities. She frequently incorporates elements of her upbringing in Texas and her heritage into her comedy.
Alonzo said dates for the new show will be announced soon.