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Special Olympics Condemns Kid Rock's Use of Offensive Slur
29 Oct
Summary
- Kid Rock used the R-word on Fox News
- Special Olympics leader calls for him to acknowledge harm
- Slur has a "long, painful history" of dehumanizing people
On October 24th, 2025, musician Kid Rock faced widespread criticism for using the R-word during an appearance on the Fox News show "Jesse Watters Primetime". In response, the Special Olympics has spoken out against his use of the derogatory slur.
In an open letter, Loretta Claiborne, the Chief Inspiration Officer of the Special Olympics, condemned Kid Rock's language, stating that the R-word "deeply demeans and harms people with intellectual disabilities." Claiborne, a seven-time gold medalist and the first Special Olympics athlete elected to the organization's international board, called on Kid Rock to acknowledge the hurt caused and stand with the Special Olympics in rejecting the prejudiced term.
The controversy over Kid Rock's remarks comes as the use of the R-word has seen a resurgence in the mainstream lexicon in recent years, despite a decline in the 2010s. Claiborne urged Kid Rock to turn the incident into a "statement of strength" and help lead a conversation towards greater understanding and respect for people with intellectual disabilities.
