Kid Rock performs at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Kid Rock has said there’s a “good chance you are a f****t” if offended by his use of a homophobic slur.
But don’t worry, he stressed, he has “gay friends”.
Kid Rock weathered fierce condemnation after he lobbed the word “f****t” at punters in a Tennesee bar last week because they were filming his gig on their mobile phones.
The rapper, real name Robert Ritchie, responded to the backlash in a third-person tweet on Wednesday (9 June).
“If Kid Rock using the word f****t offends you, good chance you are one,” he tweeted.
“Either way, I know he has a lot of love for his gay friends and I will have a talk with him. Have a nice day. – Bob Ritchie.”
If Kid Rock using the word faggot offends you, good chance you are one. Either way, I know he has a lot of love for his gay friends and I will have a talk with him. Have a nice day. -Bob Ritchie
— Kid Rock (@KidRock) June 9, 2021
Some responded with frustration to Kid Rock’s apology, angered at his attempt to excuse his use of the homophobic slur.
or just don’t say it and actually be respectful https://t.co/utU3xon79s
— connor (@Connor_779) June 10, 2021
sometimes stuff is so just like. classic homophobic that it’s funny. old-school homophobia and also just insane https://t.co/TygDijbPiQ
— slush (@lesbsisba) June 10, 2021
This has to be the end of Kid Rock’s account, right? He’s gone from using homophobic slurs in concert, to now tweeting out homophobic slurs. Can’t imagine he still has an account by morning. https://t.co/WxfMpI1NiQ
— Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) June 10, 2021
Others, meanwhile, were almost taken aback by Kid Rock’s surreal response. His tweet, they said, was as “camp” as it was “grossly homophobic”.
nothing could prepare me for the first sentence https://t.co/3GuYwq1n6g
— c ☾ #yfk (@clairepods) June 10, 2021
i was like “are we supposed to know who bob ritchie is” and then i realised the top tier of cringe in this cringe lasagne tweet is that bob ritchie IS kid rock. this 73 year old man really sat there and typed all this shit out himself https://t.co/EwxZ6MSsF5
— char (@gavesomanysigns) June 10, 2021
Idk why but this is so grossly homophobic… that it’s camp???
I want this quote tattooed on my body IMMEDIATELY https://t.co/cRb2CKmh3X
— Alex Saccocio (@asacc101) June 10, 2021
“If Kid Rock using the word faggot offends you, good chance you are one” is one of the funniest things I have ever heard in my life https://t.co/HNcDqBHOHs
— JM (@j_pmccoy) June 10, 2021
What did Kid Rock say?
Kid Rock, the combative singer and rapper known for this often foul-mouthed rants, was captured on video hurling a homophobic slur at bar-goers on Saturday (5 June).
According to TMZ, which published the fan-filmed footage, he was performing at the FishLipz Bar & Grill in Smithville when, upon spying patrons recording him on their phones, screamed: “You f***ing f****ts!”
“F**k your iPhone, yeah,” he added, throwing his middle finger up in the air.
“Post this, post this,” Kid Rock chanted while gesturing towards his crotch.
“You can post this d**k right here. You fucking f*****s with your phones.”
This isn’t the first time Kid Rock has fielded criticism for homophobia. In 2017, he launched a bid for the US Senate – so, of course, took aim at the LGBT+ community as he did.
Emboldened by Donald Trump’s 2016 victory, the outspoken Republican said: “And why these days is everything so gay? Gay rights. Transgender this and that.
“I say let gay folks get married if they want and I’m not even close to a death trap.
“But things shouldn’t be this complicated. And, no, you don’t get to choose, because whatever you have between your legs should determine the bathroom that you use.”