Kid Rock found himself in hot water during a live interview on BBC News after an awkward exchange in which he described a reporter as “sexy” and jokingly asked her out on a ski date.
The American musician – whose real name is Robert James Ritchie – appeared on the network earlier today (January 20) as part of its coverage of Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day.
A longtime supporter of the former president, Kid Rock had flown into Washington D.C. on Sunday to perform at the Make America Great Again Rally at Capital One Arena.
While discussing his plans for Inauguration Day with reporter Caitríona Perr, Kid Rock turned the conversation personal.
He asked Perry, an Irish journalist, about her plans, saying: “What about you? What are you doing? Where you at?”
Perry, maintaining her professionalism, explained she was standing on a rooftop in Washington, enduring “very, very chilly conditions.”
“We’ll be on air for 11 or 12 hours, so I don’t think I’ll have anywhere near as fun a day as you have planned for yourself there. That sounds like you got the better deal here indeed,” Perry added.
Kid Rock responded by admitting he couldn’t see Perry via the video call, adding: “So I don’t know what you look like.”
Perry calmly described her attire: “I look ready to hit the slopes, full on ski gear,” explaining it was important to stay “wrapped up against the elements”.
This prompted Kid Rock to seize the moment, saying: “You sound sexy, you want to go with me?”
Perry, not missing a beat, quickly shut down the comment. “Well, we won’t get into that right here. We’re doing no skiing today, we’ve got a day of broadcasting to do. But Kid Rock, thank you so much for joining us here on BBC News, enjoy your day.”
Social Media Reacts
The cringeworthy exchange didn’t go unnoticed. Viewers flocked to social media platform X to share their reactions.
One viewer tweeted: “See a day of potentially wild TV moments has started early. Within minutes of appearing on BBC News, Kid Rock’s interview descends into him hitting on host Caitríona Perry.”
A second wrote: “Kid Rock flirting on BBC News is some of the most awkward television you’ll see this year.”
“I can’t believe I just listened to Kid Rock just perv over a journalist on the BBC, gotta be one of the most awkward things I’ve listened to in years,” added a third.
Others went as far as to call Kid an “absolute moron” and describe the moment as “disgusting”.
A Call From Trump
Kid Rock’s headline-grabbing appearance follows recent revelations about his close ties to Donald Trump. During an interview on Fox and Friends Weekend, the musician shared details of a surprising call he received from the president-elect and Melania Trump late last week.
“Friday morning I got a call from the president and Melania, and it was kind of mind-blowing,” Rock told the show’s hosts. “I’ve tried to leave him alone—he’s got a lot on his plate, I would think, right now.”
Rock recounted a humorous exchange during the call: “He called and he goes, ‘Did the Secret Service really tell you that you can’t use strippers?’”
Rock clarified his earlier comments about his performance at the MAGA rally: “No, sir, I was just joking around,” he recalled telling Trump.
