(AllHipHop News) Did Robert “Kid Rock” Ritchie’s random rant against the so-called “Queen of All Media” Oprah Winfrey cost him money? Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena, which is operated by Ilitch Holdings, is severing ties with the singer’s restaurant.
Last month, TMZ published a video of Kid Rock berating Winfrey and The View co-host Joy Behar at his steakhouse in Nashville. National Action Network’s Michigan chapter president Reverend Charles Williams II blasted Ritchie as a “low-life racist punk rock star” and called on Ilitch Holdings to replace his eatery with a minority-owned establishment.
Ilitch Holdings officials are claiming Kid Rock “voluntarily decided” not to renew his agreement. Neither the company nor the former member of The Beast Crew rap group confirmed the anti-Oprah rant was the actual cause of the business separation. However, Kid Rock’s Facebook post about the matter clearly refers to race, the black community, and Reverend Al Sharpton’s National Action Network.
“I will not be renewing my licensing agreement for my Made In Detroit Restaurant this April,” wrote Kid Rock. “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.”
He added, “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. 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. PS – Hey Al Sharpton, you or your cronies will never beat me you tax-evading, race-baiting clown!”
Sharpton responded to Kid Rock seemingly blaming him and NAN for his restaurant closing. The MSNBC political pundit told TMZ, “If he’s leaving Detroit because of our protest, we consider that a success. I think he tweeted that we will never beat him. Somebody ought to give him a newsflash, we already have.”