Kid Rock defends contemptible use of homophobic slur by… using homophobic slur
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.”
Some responded with frustration to Kid Rock’s apology, angered at his attempt to excuse his use of the homophobic slur.
Others, meanwhile, were almost taken aback by Kid Rock’s surreal response. His tweet, they said, was as “camp” as it was “grossly homophobic”.
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 fing 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.”
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