Kid Rock Stirs Backlash After Dropping Slur During Fox News Halloween Chat

Kid Rock Sparks Outrage Over Halloween Remark

Kid Rock is once again stirring controversy — this time over his Halloween “costume” and a choice of words that didn’t sit well with viewers.

The outspoken country rock star appeared on Jesse Watters Primetime on Fox News last Friday, where the conversation took a turn from lighthearted to uncomfortable. What began as a simple question about Halloween quickly escalated when Rock, whose real name is Robert James Ritchie, decided to make his costume choice a political statement.

The Controversial Comment

When host Jesse Watters shared that his family planned to dress up as the Scooby-Doo Mystery Gang, he threw the question back to Rock — who grinned before dropping a slur that advocates for people with disabilities have long fought to remove from everyday language. Holding a face mask to his mouth, Rock said he would be going as “a r-word,” a comment that drew laughter from Watters but widespread criticism online.

“Okay, I guess you can be anything,” Watters replied, chuckling. Rock, clearly pleased with himself, added, “Greatest costume ever!”

Ongoing Pattern of Provocation

The exchange didn’t just highlight Rock’s continued opposition to pandemic safety measures — it reignited conversations about the line between free speech and offensive behavior.

Over the past few years, the “All Summer Long” singer has made his views on COVID-19 restrictions clear. He’s openly criticized vaccine and mask mandates, even refusing to perform at venues that require them. In his 2022 song We the People, Rock took direct aim at the pandemic response, with lyrics mocking both public health guidelines and political figures.

However, fans with long memories might recall that early in the pandemic, Rock wasn’t quite so dismissive. Back in 2020, he shared an Instagram post encouraging followers to make homemade cloth masks to help protect others — a stance that’s a far cry from his current tone.

A History of Backlash

This isn’t the first time Rock’s comments have sparked outrage. In 2017, he paused a concert in Grand Rapids to launch into a politically charged rant criticizing Colin Kaepernick for kneeling during the national anthem — a moment that cemented his reputation as one of music’s most vocal conservative figures.

While some fans continue to defend Rock’s “tell-it-like-it-is” attitude, many others are calling him out for using language and humor that marginalize others. What was supposed to be a light Halloween moment has instead turned into another reminder of how easily the musician’s attempts at jokes can cross the line.