Hayley Williamshas faced backlash from conservative music fans after she called Morgan Wallena “racist country singer” on her new album. And during a recent interview with Fox News, ’90s rap-rocker Kid Rockseemingly called out the Paramore vocalist, saying how it’s “stupid” that there are “people who think they’re cooler than art thou that worry about their outfit every day like some of these rock singers that live here in Nashville.”
“I won’t stay any names,” continued Rock, “or these chicks running around on their campuses with their blue hair, their five nose rings.” Though Rock (real name Robert Ritchie, 54) didn’t mention Williams, 36, by name, she thought he was shading her, and responded to his comments via her Instagram Story.
Hayley Williams Responds to Kid Rock Comments: ‘My, How The Turn Tables!’
“I remember being a little kid in Meridian, Mississippi,” began Williams while sharing the clip of Rock’s Fox News appearance, per Stereogum. “The first time I heard a Kid Rock song was at Poplar Springs Elementary’s annual field day.”
That song was “Bawitdaba,” his breakthrough single from his fourth album, Devil Without A Cause.
“I thought it sounded dangerous and cool,” remarked Williams. “Later, I learned I wasn’t allowed to listen to him cause the Southern Baptist church said he was evil. My, how the turn tables!”
Hayley Williams of Paramore performs during the Honda Civic tour at HP Pavilion on September 16, 2010, in San Jose, California.Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images
Williams went on the Sept. 30 episode of The New York Times’ Popcast to discuss her new album, Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party. On the title track, Hayley sings about how she’s “the biggest star, at this racist country singer’s bar.” Williams said on Popcast that the country singer in question “could be a couple” of people, but she’s “always talking about Morgan Wallen.”
In 2021, security footage showed Wallen using a racial slur. He issued an apology, but has since sparked more controversies.
Kid Rock performs during the Republican National Convention (RNC) at the Fiserv ForumPhoto by Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Controversy is something Kid Rock knows well. In May 2025, during another appearance on Fox & Friends, Rock claimed the “low birth rate in America” was in part due to “liberal women,” before unleashing an ugly comment about the physical appearance of those with whom he disagrees politically. The comment was successful in irritating many viewers, including Stella Parton, the sister of Dolly Parton (who included him on her 2023 rock album, Rockstar).
A May 2024 Rolling Stone article insinuated that Rock’s outspoken persona is by design. “Would you do me a favor?” he asked writer David Peisner. “Just write the most horrific article about me. Do it. It helps me.”
Peisner noted that fans might be able to label Rock’s comments as “the rantings of a drunk racist, but as with everything that [he] does, it’s hard to know how calculated it all is. Is he just trying to get a reaction?”
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This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 12, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.