California Governor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday used his official social account to declare he was “banning” musician Kid Rock from the state after a shirtless workout video of Kid Rock and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. circulated online. The clip, shared by Kennedy, shows the pair performing exercises—set to Kid Rock’s 1999 hit “Bawitdaba”—and includes shirtless gym work, ice baths in jeans and a shared glass of whole milk. Newsom framed his post as a tongue-in-cheek reprimand, drawing rapid attention and wide ridicule across cable and late-night television. The episode amplified an ongoing meme war in which Newsom, Kennedy and conservative entertainers have frequently traded barbs.
Key Takeaways
- Governor Gavin Newsom announced a rhetorical “ban” of Kid Rock on his official social account on Tuesday after a workout clip featuring Kid Rock and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. went viral.
- The video features the pair using gym equipment shirtless, entering ice baths while wearing jeans, and drinking whole milk in a hot tub; the soundtrack is Kid Rock’s 1999 song “Bawitdaba.”
- Newsom’s post included a mocking tone—calling the pushups “very low energy” and saying California “only allows winners”—and also joked about banning workouts in jeans.
- The clip drew mockery from commentators across the spectrum, including Fox News hosts and late-night comedians such as Stephen Colbert and Greg Gutfeld.
- Kid Rock, 55, has faced recent public setbacks, including cancellations linked to the Rock the Country tour and other high-profile pullouts from a planned halftime show.
- Newsom’s intervention is rhetorical and symbolic; there is no legal mechanism in place to bar a U.S. citizen from entering a state on the basis described.
- The exchange occurs amid Newsom’s broader national profile-building, including remarks at the Munich Security Conference and frequent online satirical engagements with political opponents.
Background
Gavin Newsom, California’s governor, has cultivated a combative online persona in recent years, often using humor and satire to lampoon opponents and shape national conversations. That approach has included pointed social-media posts aimed at figures aligned with former President Donald Trump and at cultural flashpoints. The “ban” on Kid Rock is consistent with a pattern in which Newsom’s team uses mock proclamations and memes to score political and cultural points.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who shared the workout clip, is a public figure who has attracted attention for vaccine-related views and for seeking a broader political profile; his collaborations with entertainers have drawn scrutiny and commentary. Kid Rock, the 55-year-old rocker known for blending rap, country and rock elements, has been a polarizing cultural figure and a visible presence in conservative circles. Both men’s decisions to publish an offbeat fitness video invited rapid public reaction in a media environment that amplifies viral moments.
Main Event
The video posted by Kennedy shows the two men engaging in a loosely choreographed “rock out workout.” Scenes include Kennedy pedaling a stationary bike in a sauna while Kid Rock does pushups nearby, both removing shirts at times and later submerging in ice baths while wearing jeans. At one point they share a glass of whole milk in a hot tub; the soundtrack is Kid Rock’s 1999 single “Bawitdaba.”
Newsom’s official social account responded with a hyperbolic ban: the post said, in effect, that the governor had “seen enough” and declared Kid Rock unwelcome in California, criticizing the pushup form and the jeans-at-the-gym choice. The message was delivered in all-caps and in a mocking register that echoed earlier meme exchanges between Newsom and Trump-aligned celebrities.
Reaction was immediate and bipartisan in tone: conservative hosts on Fox News criticized the pairing as awkward, while late-night comedians amplified the clip’s surreal qualities. Some commentators framed the video as an odd PR move that hurt the public images of those involved; others treated the exchange as a predictable skirmish in an ongoing culture-war theater.
Analysis & Implications
At surface level, the episode is a short-lived viral moment: a deliberately strange video, a theatrical rebuke from a political leader, and an equally theatrical media reaction. But it also highlights how modern political theater blends entertainment, personal branding and policy-stage positioning. Newsom’s mock ban functions as both a trolling tactic and a signaling device to audiences who monitor cultural as well as political battles.
For Newsom personally, the skirmish serves multiple objectives: it feeds a national profile ahead of speculation about future presidential ambitions, entertains his base with lampooning content, and frames a cultural contrast between his public persona and that of Trump-aligned entertainers. The ephemeral nature of viral clips means the political payoff is uncertain, but the reach is immediate and wide.
For Kid Rock and Kennedy, the clip risks reinforcing narratives of poor messaging and erratic public behavior that have shadowed some of their recent projects. Kid Rock’s recent promotional setbacks and festival cancellations mean that images that invite mockery can have tangible commercial and reputational consequences. Still, these figures often rely on controversy to maintain visibility, so short-term mockery does not always translate into lasting damage.
Comparison & Data
| Element | Observed Detail |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack | Kid Rock’s “Bawitdaba” (1999) |
| Workout moves | Pushups, stationary bike, ice baths; mixed form noted by commentators |
| Attire | Jeans during ice baths and portions of the gym sequence |
The table above catalogs the clip’s most-discussed elements; media coverage centered on these visual and auditory cues as markers of the video’s oddness. While the components themselves are straightforward, their juxtaposition—and the public figures involved—escalated the story into a widescale online reaction.
Reactions & Quotes
“I HAVE SEEN ENOUGH,” the governor’s account wrote, declaring the ban and ridiculing the workout’s “low energy.”
Gavin Newsom (official social account)
“This raises a question: who rubs off on who?”
Greg Gutfeld (Fox News)
Comedian Stephen Colbert called the clip “senior softcore,” noting it provoked more questions than answers.
Stephen Colbert (late-night commentary)
Unconfirmed
- There is no public indication that California will take any legal steps to bar Kid Rock from entering the state; the “ban” appears rhetorical and performative.
- It is unclear whether the video was produced as a promotional stunt, a private moment shared publicly, or a deliberate political signal; the intent behind the clip has not been independently verified.
- Any direct commercial impact on Kid Rock’s scheduled performances or on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s public standing attributable solely to this video has not been established.
Bottom Line
Newsom’s mock announcement that Kid Rock is banned from California is best read as political theater: a satirical rebuke designed to generate attention and underline cultural differences. The stunt capitalizes on the mechanics of viral media—short, surreal visuals amplified by high-profile participants and swift commentary across cable and late-night platforms.
Practically, the “ban” carries no legal weight, but it does highlight the interplay between entertainment and political signaling in contemporary public life. For observers, the episode is a reminder that public figures increasingly trade in shock, humor and spectacle to shape narratives—an approach that yields immediate headlines and social-media traction but uncertain long-term consequences.