Jemele Hill Roasts Kid Rock After His Jay-Z ‘DEI Hire’ Comment
In 2026, Kid Rock, the Detroit-born rocker known for blending rap, rock, and country and for his outspoken political commentary, remains a divisive figure. Over two decades after Devil Without a Cause launched him into mainstream fame, he found himself at the center of controversy for headlining the Turning Point USA “All-American Halftime Show.” Now, he’s in the spotlight for a comment he made about Jay-Z. Here’s what Kid Rock said about the prolific rapper. Plus, how journalist Jemele Hill responded.
Jemele Hill says Kid Rock’s stupidity is ‘truly terminal’ following the rocker’s comment about Jay-Z after Super Bowl LX
Since 2019, Jay-Z’s entertainment company, Roc Nation, has helped shape the NFL’s Super Bowl Halftime Show. Under the partnership, Roc Nation advises on talent selection and helps coordinate creative direction and production elements with the league. The company also works alongside executive producers, like Emmy-winner Jesse Collins and director Hamish Hamilton, to deliver standout performances.
For Super Bowl LX, this collaboration continued with Bad Bunny headlining. The performance marked a milestone, as Bad Bunny was the first solo Latino and Spanish-speaking artist to lead the halftime show.
Unfortunately, conservative political leaders opposed the Super Bowl LX halftime show with Bad Bunny. Conservative political group Turning Point USA hosted the “All-American Halftime Show” at the same time as the NFL’s show. Kid Rock headlined Turning Point’s production.
After the Super Bowl, Kid Rock spoke on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle about Jay-Z. He noted that he respected Jay-Z for his “hustle” and “music.” “But, it seemed like there was a little bit of a DEI hire there going on, you know …,” Kid Rock said regarding the rapper’s affiliation with the NFL.
Emmy Award-winning journalist, author, and podcaster Jemele Hill took to X to share her thoughts about Kid Rock’s Jay-Z comment.
“Kid Rock, of all people, called Jay-Z — arguably the greatest hip-hop artist ever and a billionaire — a ‘DEI hire,'” she posted, along with the clip. “His stupidity is truly terminal.”
A comment on X notes that Kid Rock isn’t even “the best artist of his generation in his own city.”
To that, Hill commented back, “He probably ain’t even the best artist on his own street.”
Kid Rock explained the syncing issues he had during the All-American Halftime Show
While speaking on The Ingraham Angle, Kid Rock addressed some of the on-stage issues he experienced during the All-American Halftime Show. He admitted to being “out of sync” with his DJ, according to The Independent.
“My DJ, who actually raps that song with me, was not lit up,” Kid Rock said. “I’m jumping around the stage like a rabid monkey, rapping my song, and I’m taking breaths, and my DJ is filling in the other parts of it — I even told them when I saw the rough cut, I was like, ‘You guys got to work on that sync. It’s off.'”
“So, it was just a syncing issue that they had, and I know they tried to get it right,” he continued. “It was very difficult.”
As for what he thought of Bad Bunny’s performance, he noted that he couldn’t understand it. “I saw there were a lot of dancers, and a lot of big to-do stuff,” he said in the interview. “And, you know, he said he wanted to have a dance party. It looked like he had one. Not my cup of tea, but I don’t fault that kid for doing the Super Bowl and getting in front of a global audience. I fault the NFL for putting him in that position.”
Jay-Z was fully supported Bad Bunny taking the Super Bowl LX halftime stage
After announcing Bad Bunny as the headliner for the 2026 Super Bowl LX halftime show, Jay-Z publicly defended the choice amid polarized reactions. When asked about the backlash from some critics, Jay-Z made a pointed yet succinct remark while signing autographs in New York. “They love him,” he told TMZ. “Don’t let them fool you.” With that statement, he emphasized that the global affection for Bad Bunny outweighs the noise from detractors.
Jay-Z also highlighted what Bad Bunny represents on the “world’s biggest stage,” according to People. In announcing the Latin music superstar’s role, Jay-Z praised his influence and connection to Puerto Rico. He said that what Bad Bunny has “done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring,” and expressed that Roc Nation and the NFL were “honored to have him” headline the halftime show.
