Kid Rock is distancing himself from his hometown.
On Wednesday, the owners of Little Caesars Arena confirmed that Kid Rock will not renew his leasing agreement to house his Made in Detroit restaurant in the stadium. The group president of sports and entertainment for Ilitch Holdings, Chris Granger, said Rock "voluntarily decided" to move on but the company promotes an environment that is "open, inviting, inclusive and respectful to all."
The comes on the heels of Rock's recent profanity-laced rant. Last week, he was at his very own Kid Rock's Big Ass Honky Tonk Rock N' Roll Steakhouse in Nashville when he decided to project his disdain for Oprah Winfrey, Joy Behar, and Kathie Lee Gifford. Although he repeatedly said he's not racist for hating on these individuals, many people in the crowd took offense to Rock's antics. This led Michigan National Action Network (NAN) to organize a protest and press conference in front of Rock's restaurant. The entertainer referenced NAN when announcing that he's closing his restaurant.
"I appreciate all who have patronized our place and still have much love for the City of Detroit and the people / organizations that I have helped there for years, black, white, whatever, but learned long ago, go where you're celebrated, not tolerated," Rock wrote in a Facebook post. "I guess the millions of dollars I pumped into that town was not enough. I will let the NAN network and others go ahead and take the wheel now. Good luck."
He then went on to combat claims that he's a racist. "I may be guilty of being a loud mouth jerk at times, but trying to label me racist is a joke, and actually only does a disservice to the black community, which I have supported my entire life, by trying to alienate myself and many others," Rock said before directly addressing NAN's founder, Al Sharpton. "PS - Hey Al Sharpton, you or your cronies will never beat me you tax evading, race baiting clown! Trump 2020!!"
Although Rock contributes to several charities in the city, the closing of his restaurant further widens the gap between himself and Detroit. According to the Detroit Free Press, Rock spends most of his time in Nashville. He sold one of his Detroit homes this summer and dismantled the recording studio that is on his other local property.
