NHL defends making Kid Rock its All-Star Game performer

The NHL defended its selection of Kid Rock as the main performer for the 2018 All-Star Game on Jan. 28 in Tampa, dismissing social media backlash about the singer.

“Our sole objective in choosing musical acts to perform at League events is to entertain our fans," Steve Mayer, NHL executive vice president and executive producer for programming and creative development, told USA TODAY Sports in a statement Friday. "Most of the acts that have appeared are passionate hockey fans.”

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Kid Rock, a die-hard Red Wings fan, is known for his lively performances. He has also publicly endorsed President Donald Trump and sided with Trump in opposing NFL players who kneel during the national anthem. Kid Rock has criticized Colin Kaepernick, and he's also drawn headlines for displaying Confederate flags and making anti-transgender comments at his concerts.