NHL Draws Backlash From Leftists After Selecting Kid Rock To Perform At Its All Star Game

The National Hockey League booked musician Kid Rock to play during the second intermission at their annual All Star Game, set to take place in Tampa Bay, Florida, on January 28.

Not everyone is happy with the decision, however. According to sports blog, The Comeback, the NHL is now facing a backlash from triggered leftists who are concerned that Kid Rock is too closely associated with President Donald Trump and “right wing” ideology to perform at a hockey arena.

Rock, whose real name is Robert Ritchie, has done more than his share of goading when it comes to left-leaning activists. The musician openly endorsed Donald Trump during the Republican primary and has spoken in favor of conservative policies, particularly as they apply to gun rights. Last fall, Rock made headlines after announcing that he’d launch a campaign for one of Michigan’s Senate seats, held by Democrat Debbie Stabenow.

The campaign ended being (mostly) a publicity stunt, but it gave Kid Rock a chance to air his political views, and now leftists feel that their oft-vocalized commitment to tolerance and inclusion must stop at allowing him to perform in a public forum.

They were particularly vitriolic on Twitter.

artists the nhl could have booked for all star weekend instead of kid rock:
– literally any elvis impersonator
– the jonas brothers
– the ghost of frank sinatra
– a roomba with an ipod attached to it

— aspiring bachelor contestant (@goalietandem) January 17, 2018

Minorities, people of color and women already feel like the NHL doesn’t gaf about them. Having Kid Rock as the All-Star game entertainment just underlies that point.

— Hemal Jhaveri (@hemjhaveri) January 17, 2018

Kid Rock, noted racist, performs at event in which one of the teams is captained by the NHL’s only ever minority superstar, who gets pelted with racist tweets every time he wins a playoff series.

Gee, why can’t the NHL expand its viewership?

— Zacahary (@ZWal93) January 17, 2018

Kid Rock, of course, doesn’t seem to care. He took part in the NHL’s announcement on NBC sports network, though he did mention that he doesn’t do much television because the “politics” have become overwhelming.

“It’s a turnoff with all the politics that go into it, what you can and can’t do,” Kid Rock told presenter Jeremy Roenick (who was trying hard — and failing — to hide his love for Kid Rock’s music). Rock went on to say that the NHL is open to “trying to make this special.”

The NHL is, by all accounts, interested in keeping Kid Rock on, as well.