In its inauspicious debut a week ago, a character played by the Puerto Rican actor Amaury Nolasco matter-of-factly uttered the cringe-worthy line, "I'm Puerto Rican... I'd be great at selling drugs."
The supposed joke backfired, setting off a firestorm of criticism on Facebook and Twitter and even a prime-time demonstration by about two dozen people on Wednesday outside ABC studios in Manhattan.
The controversial line has prompted a bit of soul searching for an island devastated by drug-related violence. Puerto Rico's dirty little secret is neither little nor secret any more.
Still, some protesters outside ABC carried signs with the Puerto Rican flag and chanted, "I am Puerto Rican and not a drug dealer."
