Rocker Gene Simmons is no stranger to courting controversy, but this time he has really gotten under some people’s skin with his recent remarks on the death of music icon Prince.
His remarks started off innocent enough, as the rock icon waxed poetic about the gift of life.
“Every day I wake up and I never take it for granted,” Gene said with sincerity. “I’ve always been delusionally upbeat and positive,” Simmons continued…..but that’s when his filter broke and he said what was really on his mind…
“Bowie was the most tragic of all because it was real sickness,” Simmons informed the media. “All the other ones were a choice.”
Surely he can’t be serious, even Prince?
“His drugs killed him. What do you think, he died from a cold?”
Ok, Gene, apparently even Prince…though the rocker is only partially correct about Prince’s cause of death, as unconfirmed sources continue to tell us that AIDS was the ultimate culprit…and Simmons has never been shy about casual sex himself.
Simmons almost removed his foot from his mouth, but at the very last minute decided to stick both feet in.
“I think Prince was heads, hands and feet above all the rest of them. I thought he left [Michael] Jackson in the dust. Prince was way beyond that. But how pathetic that he killed himself. Don’t kid yourself, that’s what he did. Slowly, I’ll grant you… but that’s what drugs and alcohol is: a slow death.”
His inflammatory remarks have caused an understandable backlash, in fact fellow KISS bandmate Paul Stanley was one who took public exception to Gene’s blunt and insensitive remarks.
Embarrassed by cold clueless statements re Prince’s death. Without all the facts better to say nothing. My apologies https://t.co/Arb5XQ4o7l
— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) May 10, 2016
A brief Twitter spat ensued between Paul Stanley and Gene’s wife Shannon Tweed, who aired out the band’s civil war on the issue over social media…
We ALL have our failings but true friends don’t point at them & throw you under the bus! Especially partners of 40 years!
— Mrs ShannonTSimmons (@shannonleetweed) May 11, 2016
Partners of 40 years says it all. Don’t confuse walking under the bus with being thrown under. My apology was right. https://t.co/FF9dG6Tfo1
— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) May 11, 2016
