Vile. Disgusting. Dangerous. Kid Rock seems to hate trans people and really hate their being associated with a beer company. To prove it, he posted an extremely violent video on Twitter.
Rock, whose real name is Robert James Richie, seems angry that Anheuser-Busch, which owns Bud Light, is embracing the trans community, specifically social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney. She’s partnered with them for a clever social media campaign promoting a sports-related contest where she hugs cans of Bud Light and shows off a one-of-a-kind can with her face on it.
The contrast is clear: Her video is light, tongue-in-cheek fun. Kid Rock’s is the opposite. He avoids making a verbal connection but the message was clear to his followers – who posted equally vile support in the comments section. More than eight million people viewed the video in the first two days.
At a time when lawmakers support legal discrimination against trans, this type of video from a rough, conservative rock star becomes especially dangerous, sending a message that could be interpreted that violence against trans people and their allies is justified.
What are they scared of? Apparently this. This is video from Trans Day of Visibility last week at the Pride Center in Wilton Manors. There were musical performances, poetry readings and more. Trans people contribute to society like everybody else, while being threatened every step of the way.
As for Mulvaney, she hasn’t responded to Rock’s video, but has posted, “If you are in a position of power to hire someone trans or non-binary, please do! We need to exist in every space. I want to see trans people doing all the brand deals.”
If that happens, Kid Rock’s head will explode faster than those cases of Bud Light.
Fun facts: Bud products are prominently featured on the menu of his Nashville restaurant.
Also: While she has about 1.7 million followers on Instagram, he has fewer than a million. Sounds like a case of Follower Envy.
