Kid Rock Breaks Silence After Backlash Over ‘Cool, Daddy Cool’ Lyrics Ahead of TPUSA Music Event
Kid Rock broke his silence on social media Thursday as backlash intensified over lyrics from his 2001 song “Cool, Daddy Cool,” just days before he is set to headline a Turning Point USA–backed Super Bowl alternative event.
Rock is scheduled to perform at TPUSA’s “All-American Halftime Show” on Sunday, promoted as a Christian- and family-friendly alternative to the NFL’s Super Bowl LX halftime show. The event gained added visibility after JD Vance shared TPUSA’s promotional post on X, praising the lineup and referring to Kid Rock by his real name, Bob Ritchie.
The show’s bill – which also includes Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett – was quickly mocked online outside conservative circles. But criticism escalated after social media users resurfaced lyrics from “Cool, Daddy Cool,” particularly a verse that many described as disturbing.
In the song’s third verse, Rock sings, “Young ladies, young ladies, I like ’em underage,” followed by a line referencing statutory rape. The late Joe C responds on the track with a line that further amplified outrage when rediscovered.
The controversy exploded after journalist Parker Molloy reshared Vance’s post and quoted the lyrics on X, sarcastically suggesting Rock might perform the song at the TPUSA event. Since then, critics have repeatedly pointed to the lyrics while questioning the decision to feature Rock at a “family-friendly” show.
— KidRock (@KidRock) February 5, 2026
Rock did not directly address the lyrics or the criticism. Instead, he posted a meme on X attributed to Kobe Bryant, labeled “Mamba Mentality,” encouraging people to “learn to love the hate” and claiming that criticism is a sign of greatness.
The post only fueled further backlash.
“You ain’t no Kobe Bryant,” sports commentator John Rocha wrote. “That quote was meant for top dogs – not lap dogs.”
Other users accused Rock of appropriating a quote from a revered athlete while ignoring the substance of the criticism. Several replies mocked the post as tone-deaf, while others reposted the controversial lyrics alongside harsh commentary.
One widely shared response dubbed the attitude behind the post “pedo mentality,” while others urged Rock to delete it, saying the controversy appeared to be intentional rage bait.
Beyond Molloy’s initial post, users continued taking shots at the timing and optics of Rock headlining the TPUSA event. Some sarcastically suggested he perform “Cool, Daddy Cool,” while others questioned how the song aligns with the event’s stated values.
You can listen to “Cool, Daddy Cool” in the video below:
As of Thursday night, Rock had not issued any clarification or apology regarding the lyrics, and TPUSA had not publicly addressed the controversy. The backlash continues to spread online as the Super Bowl–adjacent event approaches.
