Kid Rock rushes to distance himself from Nashville steakhouse after immigration raids force early closure

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: Kid Rock is attempting to separate himself from a controversy swirling around his Nashville bar and restaurant after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids reportedly led to staffing shortages and an early closure over the weekend of May 10.

The Big A-- Honky Tonk Rock N’ Roll Steakhouse named after the Trump-supporting rock star was forced to close its kitchen early as managers allegedly sent staff home or employees avoided work out of fear of being targeted by federal immigration enforcement. 

The incident unfolded amid a broader ICE operation across South Nashville that resulted in nearly 200 arrests, the Daily Beast reported.

Kid Rock says he has nothing to do with day-to-day operations at Nashville eatery

Despite the eatery bearing his name and brand, Kid Rock, whose real name is Bob Ritchie, quickly took to social media to clarify his involvement.

“Clearly I do not have anything to do with day-to-day operations at my Honky Tonk—but it’s good click bait, I get it,” he posted. “That being said, I 100% support getting illegal criminals out of our country no matter where they are.”

The situation carries particular irony given Kid Rock’s vocal support of President Donald Trump, who has made strict immigration enforcement a centerpiece of his political platform.

The restaurant in question is partly owned by Steve Smith, a prominent Trump donor, who also co-owns other popular Nashville spots like The Diner and Honky Tonk Central, both of which reportedly shut down during the same period.

Although the Daily Mail report did not accuse Kid Rock of hiring undocumented workers or directly managing operations, it spotlighted the tension between Trump-aligned business owners and the real-world consequences of the immigration policies they endorse.

“I also, like President Trump, want to speed up the process of getting GREAT immigrants into our country—LEGALLY!” Kid Rock said, before adding, “That’s that simple, folks.”

According to the Department of Homeland Security, ICE began nightly traffic stops in early May, arresting at least 196 people over 10 days.

Internet reacts to Kid Rock distancing himself from Nashville restaurant linked to ICE raids

Social media erupted after it was reported that Kid Rock’s namesake restaurant was the site of an ICE raid targeting undocumented workers, prompting the musician to swiftly distance himself from the business.

The incident has not only reignited debates around immigration enforcement but also sparked a storm of sarcasm, criticism, and confusion online.

Some users were quick to attack the perceived hypocrisy. “MAGA is clueless about immigration,” one user wrote.

“Funny how they insist on going after the good guys, the patriots!!” said another.

“LOL Kid Rock doesn’t even own Kid Rock’s,” a commenter pointed out.

“So will you be firing or disciplining the manager?” asked another, directing accountability toward restaurant leadership.

“I hope your management team didn’t hire illegal aliens behind your back. If they did, well, what comes next for them is up to you,” one individual remarked.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.