Kid Rock's throwaway Halloween gag, delivered on live television, has reignited debate over the use of disability slurs in public discourse and prompted swift criticism from disability advocates and many social-media users.
Robert 'Kid Rock' Ritchie made the remark during an interview on Fox News' Jesse Watters Primetime on 24 October 2025, when the two were riffing about Halloween costumes.
After a light exchange about family-themed outfits, Kid Rock pulled on a face mask, teased Watters, and delivered the line: 'Guess what I'm gonna be — a retard!' The host laughed nervously, and the clip immediately began circulating online.
What Was Said — And Where It Aired
The exchange took place during the 24 October 2025 broadcast of Jesse Watters Primetime. The full episode and the shorter clip are available on Fox's video archive and on the programme's online platforms; the moment itself was later uploaded to video-sharing sites and shared widely on social networks.
In the broadcast, Kid Rock repeats the slur aloud and follows it with 'Greatest costume ever!' before the show moves on.
@tmz If you're looking for a politically correct Halloween costume idea ... you ain't gonna find one with Kid Rock. 🎥 FOX News
♬ original sound - TMZ
That the line aired on a major cable-news show matters: broadcast and streaming outlets maintain editorial controls and complaints procedures, and moments like this test the balance between live-conversational spontaneity and the professional standards expected of mainstream news platforms.
The segment remained available on Fox's site in the hours after broadcast and was picked up by numerous social clips and reposts.
Reaction: Outrage, Defence, and The Role Of Comedy
Responses were rapid and divided. Disability-rights advocates called the language harmful and dehumanising, saying public figures have a responsibility to avoid slurs that perpetuate stigma.
Social-media posts by users with lived experience described the line as a painful reminder of everyday marginalisation and mockery.
At the same time, some commentators defended the remark as off-the-cuff humour or said the clip was being overblown by critics; conservative outlets and talk-radio hosts framed the exchange as 'edgy' or emblematic of pushback against perceived 'political correctness.'
The split in coverage underscores how volatile debates over language and free speech remain in the contemporary media environment.
Live interviews often feature unscripted banter, but broadcasters typically still apply standards about hate speech and demeaning language. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) guidelines in the United States do not list specific words prohibited on-air, but press-standards bodies and internal channel policies usually guide what presenters and guests may say without editorial consequence.
Why the Language Matters
The term used by Kid Rock is widely considered a slur by disability advocates and many linguistic scholars. Historically, clinical terminology such as 'mental retardation' shifted out of formal use precisely because it became pejorative in common speech; modern clinical and advocacy organisations now favour terms such as 'intellectual disability.'
Disability-rights groups argue that casual deployment of the slur on a mainstream platform reinforces stigma and can normalise hurtful language for audiences who respect or emulate high-profile entertainers.
Words that reduce people to caricature contribute to social exclusion, bullying, and real-world harm, from employment discrimination to abuse. Campaigners say high-profile moments like this present opportunities for education about respectful language and for public figures to demonstrate accountability rather than doubling down on offence.
Moments intended as humour can quickly widen into social discussions with very real consequences for how communities are seen — and treated — in public life.
