Kid Rock has announced that his Detroit restaurant will close its doors, a week after the conservative rocker made a series of controversial statements about Oprah Winfrey. The licensing agreement for Kid Rock's Made in Detroit restaurant, located inside Little Caesar's Arena, was up for renewal in April. In a statement Wednesday, the arena's parent company Ilitch Holdings said that Kid Rock "voluntarily decided not to renew" the agreement, adding: "We are in the business of amazing and inspiring our fans and guests through an incredible array of world-class sporting and live entertainment events. As our venues are open, inviting, inclusive, and respectful to all, we look forward to bringing on an exciting new concept that aligns with our community and company values." Rock also released a statement of his own, thanking fans for their support, while also suggesting that he longer feels welcome in the Motor City. "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 wrote on Facebook. "I guess the millions of dollars I pumped into that town was not enough." He also referenced the activist group National Action Network, which planned to hold a press conference and protest in front of the restaurant on Wednesday. "I will let the NAN and others go ahead and take the wheel now. Good luck." He added, "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 went on to call NAN founder Al Sharpton a "tax evading, race baiting clown" before throwing in "Trump 2020!!" Kid Rock's decision to close the Detroit restaurant comes a week after TMZ posted a video of the rocker lashing out at Winfrey while standing on stage in his Big Ass Honky Tonk Rock N' Roll Steakhouse in Nashville. In the clip, the 48-year-old musician could be heard saying into a microphone: "Fuck Oprah. Oprah Winfrey is, like, 'Hey, I just want women to believe in this shit.' Fuck her. She can suck dick sideways." The rocker also took aim at "The View" co-host Joy Behar during his appearance before he was reluctantly escorted offstage by the venue's security officials. A few hours after the clip went viral, Kid Rock took to his social media to write: "My people tried to get me to do The Oprah Winfrey show years ago and her people wanted me to write down 5 reasons why I loved her and her show… I said fuck that and her. End of story." He went on to say: "I am just saying what a lot of people think. Not saying I should be, but sometimes I just do. Oh well. I have a bit mouth and drink too much sometimes, shocker! I also work hard and do a ton to help others but that's just back page news because the press hates I love Trump. Fuck them too. I am what I am. I ain't what I ain't." It's not the first time Kid Rock has spoken of his feelings towards Winfrey. Back in 2008, he told The Independent newspaper: "Oprah Winfrey, she rubs me up the wrong way. I just don't believe her. Maybe it's because I'm not one of the 150 million brainwashed women who heed her every word." In November 2018, Rock blasted Behar during a "Fox & Friends" segment about Trump and political correctness. "God forbid you say something a little wrong; you're racist, homophobic, Islamophobic, this that and the other. People need to calm down, get a little less politically correct," Rock said. "And I would say, you know, love everybody. Except I'd say screw that Joy Behar bitch, everybody but that." The comment forced "Fox & Friends" host Steve Doocy to promptly suggest Rock "cannot say that." Rock then retracted his earlier sentiment, quipping: "I mean, lady."
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I will not be renewing my licensing agreement for my Made In Detroit Restaurant this April. I appreciate all who have... Posted by Kid Rock on Wednesday, December 4, 2019
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