Following in the footsteps of Donald Trump, Kid Rock denied a newspaper press credentials for his concert on Tuesday after it ran a negative opinion piece about him.
The musician is headlining a series of concerts inaugurating the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit beginning Tuesday night, and the Detroit Free Press was informed by his publicist that its reporters would not be welcomed to cover the first performance after a critical column by Free Press editorial page editor Stephen Henderson.
“You guys wrote a f—ed up story and allowed it to be published. You want a quote, there it is,” publicist Kirt Webster told the paper. “To be published without doing any fact checking on what Kid Rock has done for the city of Detroit? We don’t condone bad behavior. We won’t reward bad behavior.”
Henderson slammed the musician as someone “who got rich off crass cultural appropriation of black music, who used to wrap his brand in the Confederate flag … and who has repeatedly issued profane denouncements of the very idea of African Americans pushing back against American inequality.”
“This isn’t about music and whether Kid Rock is any good. Lots of people can argue, legitimately, about that,” he wrote. “It’s about culture — our culture, in our city. This is a place of incredible, rich diversity, of immigrants and native peoples and the descendants of slaves, all hardened by our history but resilient and powerful in our determination for a bright future.”
The musician responded to the criticism in a Facebook post on Monday proclaiming that he “love[s] black people.”
“I am the bonified KING OF DETROIT LOVE and it makes me smile down deep that you haters know that! Your jealousy is merely a reflection of disgust for your own failures and lack of positive ideas for our city,” he wrote. “I am however very disappointed that none of the people, businesses or charities I have so diligently supported in Detroit have had anything to say about all these unfounded attacks from these handful of jackasses and The Detroit Free Press.”
In a statement, regional editor Jeff Taylor said the paper is “disappointed” to be denied press credentials for the concert, but promised to continue to cover the opening of the arena.
“We’re disappointed by it,” Taylor said. “Henderson’s column was an opinion piece, which is separate from news. We have covered the opening of the arena extensively and fairly in our news coverage, and from a variety of perspectives. We’ll continue to do that, factually and fairly, and to cover Kid Rock and the issues as well.”
37 Hollywood Stars for Donald Trump in 2020 (Photos)
With time running out for the President to gain Joe Biden in the polls, here are 34 of Trump's celebrity fans rooting for the President to win a second term.
"I think Trump, no matter what anybody thinks of him, is doing a good job at trying to get these states — and all of the American people — what they need," Dennis Quaid told the Daily Beast in April 2020.
Comedian Roseanne Barr tweeted a picture of herself wearing a "Trump 2020" baseball cap with the caption, "2020 vision."
Former "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" Kristy Swanson in March tweeted, "An honor to meet you Mr. President."
Former NFL great Hershel Walker spoke at the RNC in August and tweeted, "TRUMP PENCE 2020"
"Thank you for being the best President ever," tweeted Diamond and Silk.
Mariano Rivera, the Former Yankee pitcher who was awarded the Medal of Freedom from the President in 2019 said, "He's doing the best for the United States."
"Phenomenal President. Quite possibly the USA," tweeted UFC fighter Conor McGregor back in January. "Most certainly one of them anyway, as he sits atop the shoulders of many amazing giants that came before him."
"We're on the very front end of this right now, and I feel comfortable and confident that because of strong leadership," said Elisabeth Hasselbeck on "The View" in March supporting the President's coronavirus response.
Former "Entertainment Tonight" anchor Mary Hart hosted the President's controversial July 4th celebration at Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota back in July.
"He is literally going to go down in history as one of our greatest Presidents," said "Pawn Stars" Rick Harrison at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February.
NASCAR driver Corey LaJoie sported a "Trump 2020" on his car at NASCAR’s Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, back in July.
UFC fighter Colby Covington recently supported the President on his Instagram saying, "Had a tremendous time yesterday with @erictrump & @carlos_e_gavidia at the MAGA Boat Parade in Miami!"
“All I gotta say is Trump 2020, bitch. Fuck I look like paying an extra 33 in taxes for Biden," rapper Lil Pump said on his Instagram story in October 2020.
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Golf legend Jack Nicklaus in a statement on his Twitter "strongly recommend(s) you consider Donald J. Trump for another four years. I certainly have and have already cast my vote for him!"
Lil Wayne shocked fans on Oct. 29 when he tweeted a photo of himself with President Trump. He captioned the pic by saying that "besides what he’s done so far with criminal reform, the platinum plan is going to give the community real ownership."
NFL Legend Brett Favre tweeted, "In this election, we have freedom of choice, which all should respect. For me & these principles, my Vote is for @RealDonaldTrump."
With the election underway, here are the stars who will be voting for President Donald Trump’s second term in 2020
With time running out for the President to gain Joe Biden in the polls, here are 34 of Trump's celebrity fans rooting for the President to win a second term.