Kid Rock has addressed backlash over his use of a homophobic slur by hurling another one around on social media.
The musician, whose real name is Robert Ritchie, came under fire earlier this week after he was caught on camera snapping at fans who were using their phones to record his performance at the FishLipz Bar and Grill in Smithville, Tenn.
"F***k your iPhone" he said to into the camera of one fan's phone. "You f***ing f***s with your iPhones out!!!" he added. The footage was revealed by TMZ.
Taking to Twitter on Wednesday, Kid Rock responded to the backlash that ensued with a quote on behalf of "Bob Ritchie."
"If Kid Rock using the word f----t 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," he wrote.
Kid Rock has not held back in airing his opinions in the past and this incident is no different. In 2015, he caused a sensation after defending his use of the word "gay" in a derogatory sense while speaking out against the rap-rock genre.
"If someone says you can’t say 'gay' like that, you can tell them to go f**k themselves," he told The Guardian at the time.
He was also slammed for a rant against Oprah Winfrey and Joy Behar, which he launched into in 2019. He later defended himself on social media.
"All this BS going on has just got [sic] my blood pumpin’ and is only more songwriting fuel for a new record and tour in 2021," Kid Rock wrote in a tweet. "I am beholden to no one, no corporate sponsors, no label and I am gonna go the f--k off!"
In a follow-up tweet, he wrote:" You haters better be shaking in your boots. To my supporters and fans, I will not let you down. I guarantee it will be my best record and tour ever. Devil Without a Cause… Kid Rock."
The rocker initially caused a stir at the time when he said in a video that he did not like Winfrey or Behar.
"I'm not a bad guy, I'm just an honest guy ..." Kid Rock insisted while someone in the background is heard calling him a racist, according to Fox News. "Look at him, he's blacked out drunk as f**k," the person added.
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Zoe Papadakis ✉
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.
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