Letter blasts column on Kid Rock's clothing line

[February 11, 2012]  DETROIT (AP) -- Rapper-rocker Kid Rock -- incensed over a column questioning where the musician's "Made in Detroit" line of T-shirts actually are made -- lashed out at the writer in an expletive-laced letter on the company's website.

The target of Rock's anger was long-time Detroit Free Press columnist Susan Tompor.

On Monday, Tompor wrote that some "Made in Detroit" T-shirts are manufactured overseas, and some adult-sized T-shirts were missing labels. The column questioned "why?"

Kid Rock, who was born Robert Ritchie, bought the struggling company several years ago. He lives north of Detroit in Macomb County and promotes the city often.

Tommy Dubak, who runs operations for "Made in Detroit," acknowledged to Tompor in the column that some shirts with the company's design are made in the U.S., but others could be manufactured elsewhere.

Rock said in his letter that the column misses the point about the company.

"The goal ... is to re-instill a sense of Detroit pride, give back to the community, try to create jobs in our home state and maybe one day build our own facility somewhere close to the riverfront in Detroit," he wrote. " ... we've NEVER laid claim to our items actually being made in Detroit, it's been our website since we took the company out of bankruptcy."

Jeff Taylor, Free Press senior managing editor, told The Associated Press on Friday that "people should read" the column "for themselves."

"We think the column was fair, balanced and accurate and noted the charitable work done by his company," Taylor said.

[Associated Press; By COREY WILLIAMS]

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