The Special Olympics are not amused after Kid Rock used an ableist slur while making a joke in a recent Fox News interview.
In an Oct. 24 appearance on the network’s “Jesse Watters Primetime” show, the country-rock musician was asked what he would dress up as for Halloween before proceeding to put on a face mask.
“What? (Dr. Anthony) Fauci?” Watters asked while trying to guess the costume.
The “All Summer Long” singer answered by dropping a slur historically used to offend disabled people.
Kid Rock looks on as US President Donald Trump signs an executive order targeting ticket scalping in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 31, 2025.
His comment prompted outrage online, particularly from Special Olympics spokesperson Loretta Claiborne, who published an open letter on Friday, Oct. 31, condemning the singer’s language.
USA TODAY has reached out to Kid Rock’s representatives for comment.
‘It hurt deeply then, and it still hurts today’
Claiborne, the organization’s chief inspiration officer, emphasized that the word “deeply demeans and harms people with intellectual disabilities” and urged the artist to acknowledge the hurt he caused.
“You have a powerful voice and a massive platform, and the world is watching. As an artist and cultural figure who influences millions, you can shape conversations and attitudes across this country,” Claiborne wrote. “In the 21st century, we’re still continuing to fight for the simplest form of justice: the recognition of our full humanity, a recognition you undermine when you use the word.”
Claiborne said that the slur has a painful history of being used to belittle and dehumanize others, making it especially harmful when a public figure or celebrity uses it.
“I know this pain personally. Growing up, I heard that word used against me again and again. It hurt deeply then, and it still hurts today. But I’ve also learned that every moment of hurt can become a moment to teach, to grow, and to move forward together. I believe this can be one of those moments,” Claiborne added.
She continued: “You have the chance to turn this incident into a statement of strength, to acknowledge the harm, to stand with people with intellectual disabilities, and to help lead the conversation toward greater understanding and respect. I would be honored to speak with you and share more about the movement for inclusion and respect that has changed so many lives, including my own.”
Kid Rock shares post defending slur use
Seemingly responding to the outrage, Kid Rock shared an X post arguing that the slur is not meant to target people with disabilities.
The word, he argues, “is not meant for people with handicaps. It’s meant for non-handicapped people who are stupid.” He repeated the slur again toward people who “don’t understand this.”
The singer has loudly expressed disdain for former CDC Director Fauci and former President Joe Biden, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, he released the track “We the People” shading both Fauci and Biden, and said he would not perform at venues requiring the COVID-19 vaccination or face masks.
The artist is also a proud ally of President Donald Trump, endorsing him in 2024’s presidential election. The president even congratulated him following the June 3 opening of his restaurant The Detroit Cowboy in Nashville.
“Congratulations to my friend, Kid Rock (I call him Bob!), on the grand opening of his new Nashville restaurant, ‘The Detroit Cowboy,'” Trump wrote on TruthSocial. “I hear it is a very friendly MAGA establishment, and look forward to going there sometime soon!”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kid Rock slammed by Special Olympics for using slur on Fox News
