Gene Simmons apologizes for comments about Prince’s death

by | May 11, 2016 | Metal on Metal, News, Updates | 0 comments

gene simmons 306KISS’ Gene Simmons is not the first person that comes to mind when you think of prudence, and everyone knows he speaks before he can process what he’s saying. Yesterday, Simmons got in the headlines after he commented on Prince’s death by saying it was “pathetic that he killed himself,” making everyone upset over his insensitivity. But the unthinkable has happened and Simmons has issued an apology for said comments.

Simmons took to his social media and apologized, stating the following:

“I just got such shit from my family for my big mouth again. I apologize – I have a long history of getting very angry at what drugs do to the families/friends of the addicts. I get angry at drug users because of my experience being around them coming up in the rock scene. In my experience they’ve made my life, and the lives of their loved ones, difficult. I was raised in a culture/crowd where drug addicts were written off as losers, and since that’s the narrative I grew up with, it’s been hard to change with the times. Needless to say, I didn’t express myself properly here – I don’t shy away from controversy, and angry critics really don’t bother me at all. If I think I’m right, I’ll throw up a finger and dig my heels in and laugh. But this time, I was not. So, my apologies.

PS
What I will say is that there is part of this that is journalists quote-mining things I’ve said in the past and applying it to new situations. This, too, happens often, and not just to me. So, quote mining, too, is wrong. It doesn’t make my past quotes any more tactful, but still – be wary of click bait. The uglier they can make it seem, the more views they will get.”

On the same subject, his bandmate Paul Stanley issued an apology on Simmons behalf, probably concern about not hurting their brand band’s reputation:

“Embarrassed by cold clueless statements re Prince’s death. Without all the facts better to say nothing. My apologies.”

Considering we’re talking about one of the most stubborn and outspoken rock musicians in recent history, this is a nice surprise but we’re sure it he’ll get back to offending people in the near future.