Kid Rock Just Threatened a Reporter with a Gun, Check Out All of His Worst Moments

Kid Rock is no stranger to controversy, having found himself in hot water several times throughout his over-35-year-old career. Take a look at some of his most eyebrow-raising moments to date, including the use of anti-LGBT rhetoric, defense of the Confederate flag, and an anti-Oprah rant.

Threatening a Reporter with a Gun, Use of N-word (2024)

Most recently, the country-rock rapper reportedly waved a gun and repeatedly used the n-word in an interview with Rolling Stone.

During a portion of the interview, reporter David Peisner contested some of Kid Rock's statements regarding immigrants and violence in Black communities. He claims that Kid Rock then pulled out a "black hand gun and wave[d] it around to make some sort of point.

Peisner alleges that Kid Rock then threatened that he "got a f--ing goddamn gun right here if I need it! I got them everywhere!"

He then referred to the rapper and producer Trick Trick, who is Black, as the "hardest hitting n-- in Detroit." He claims that Trick Trick told him that "We need Trump." Peisner wrote that this was not the only time that Kid Rock used the n-word in their interview. In the same interview, he accused Black people of "abus[ing] the system."

"I'm not going to get it right every time, but I know my heart's right," he added.

Bud Light Controversy (2023)

In the spring of 2023, Bud Light partnered with transgender social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Kid Rock, along with other conservatives, was less than thrilled with the beer brand's choice to work with a trans woman. While most displeased would-be beer buyers chose to boycott the brand, Kid Rock took an extra step: firing off rounds from his MP5 submachine gun into cases of the Anheuser-Busch brew.

"F-- Bud Light, and f- Anheuser-Busch," he wrote in the post's caption.

He later claimed to be moving on from the Bud Light boycott -- to the disappointment of conservatives -- and was spotted drinking a can later in August 2023.

Use of Anti-LGBT Language; Insulting Pride Month (2021-2022)

While on stage in 2021, Kid Rock used an anti-gay slur as an insult towards fans who were filming the performance. He was accused of homophobia, but responded claiming that he has "love for his homosexual friends."

The following year, he was accused of homophobia again after posting a meme on Truth Social and X that read "If you're anti-gun, you don't get to celebrate the 4th of July, You would have never fought back. Enjoy your pride month. Pussy."

Inappropriate Nashville Bar Sign (2019)

In 2019, Kid Rock opened up a bar in Nashville's Lower Broadway district, Kid Rock's Big Ass Honky Tonk Rock N' Roll Steakhouse. Shortly after the bar launched, the singer came under fire for the use of a 20-foot-tall neon sign featuring a giant guitar shaped like a woman's buttocks.

Nashville's Metro Council voted 27-3 to approve the sign, but dissenters were deeply disappointed with the choice to allow the explicit, "tacky" sign.

"This [sign] I feel crosses the line between good taste, family-friendliness, and I think what we would like Nashville to portray to people who come to visit us," said Councilwoman Kathleen Murphy.

Comments on Oprah, Kathie Lee Gifford (2018)

While drunk on stage in 2018, Kid Rock said "F-- Oprah and f-- Kathie Lee Gifford."

"I'm not a bad guy. I'm just an honest guy that says, 'Hey, I don't like Oprah Winfrey or Joy Behar,'" he continued before insulting the women and saying that they can perform oral sex "sideways."

In 2022, he doubled won on his comments, saying that "a drunk man's words are a sober man's thoughts, I own what I said," in an interview with Tucker Carlson. However, he did admit that he confused Kathie Lee Gifford with comedian Kathy Griffin.

Comments On Joy Behar (2018)

While promoting his bar and eatery on Fox & Friends, Kid Rock had choice words for Joy Behar of The View.

"I would say, love everybody...except screw that Joy Behar bitch," said Kid Rock to host Steve Doocy, who quickly apologized for the musician's explicit language.

"I apologize for the language, not the sentiment," continued the "All Summer Long" singer.

After this television appearance, Kid Rock was dismissed from the role of Grand Marshal of Nashville's 2018 Christmas Parade. He was replaced by James Shaw, who helped to stop a mass shooting at a Waffle House.

Defense of Confederate Flag (2011, 2015)

Throughout his career, Kid Rock has displayed the Confederate flag at various concerts. He won an NAACP Great Expectation Award in 2011, which led to protests condemning his use of the flag. He claimed to fly the flag with "no hate in [his] heart."

Though Kid Rock's publicist claimed that the singer was distancing himself from the flag, Kid Rock would later go on to defend his use of the flag.

"Please tell the people who are protesting to kiss my ass," he said in response to activists telling him to renounce his use of the Confederate flag after 2016's Charleston church shooting.

Assault and Battery Charges (2005, 2007)

Kid Rock has been charged multiple times for physical assault and battery. In 2005, he assaulted a DJ at a strip club; in 2007, he attacked Tommy Lee of Mötley Crüe. One month later, he was charged with battery for fighting a customer at Waffle House.

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