Kid Rock has faced criticism from the Special Olympics after using an ableist slur during a live appearance on Fox News. The musician, appearing on Jesse Watters Primetime last Friday, joked about his Halloween costume, saying he was going as a 'r*****' while holding a face mask over his mouth. The host laughed in response.
The term is widely recognised as a derogatory slur against people with intellectual disabilities. In an open letter, Loretta Claiborne, Chief Inspiration Officer of the Special Olympics, urged the singer to address his language. 'The R-Word deeply demeans and harms people with intellectual disabilities,' she wrote, calling on him to 'acknowledge the hurt caused' and to stand with the organisation in rejecting the word.
Claiborne emphasised the harm caused by such language, stating that it 'reopens wounds' and reinforces stigma. She offered to speak with Kid Rock to discuss the movement for inclusion and respect. The 54-year-old musician, a prominent conservative voice and supporter of Donald Trump, has not yet responded publicly.
