KISS frontman Gene Simmons is having a weird moment right now. Ever since his failed attempt to trademark the metal horns. Simmons has been busy promoting his new book, On Power.
His fun started earlier this week in East Providence, Rhode Island to accept the key to the city from a local councilman. As the presentation was happening, a heckler kept trying to interrupt the proceedings. Turns out it was Anal Cunt guitarist Josh Martin. The grindcore guitarist kept shouting things like "Ace [Frehley, original KISS guitarist] is better than this!" and "play some music for the love of God." Gene got so annoyed, that he interrupted the speech and tried to find the guy in the crowd. It was a hysterical moment:
[youtube]https://youtu.be/M7_VuQANEdE[/youtube]
Here's one from Josh's perspective, where you hear a lot more of the heckling:
So that was earlier this week, and on Wednesday, it was Gene who got in trouble, this time with Fox News. He was all over the network, promoting his book, including doing the weather on US President Donald Trump's main source for news, Fox And Friends:
MUST SEE: @genesimmons helps @JaniceDean with the weather! pic.twitter.com/EFfRQESNuq
— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) November 15, 2017
What a natural. He then appeared on Maria Bartiromo's show, and the conversation turned to all the sexual allegations springing up against men in Hollywood. According to The Daily Beast, Simmons initially found the question odd due to his rock persona and essentially chalked it all up to testosterone:
“The lunatics have taken over the insane asylum when respected business entities such as yourself ask guys that like to stick their tongues out,” Simmons answered, “what I think of Harvey Weinstein.”
“Okay, I’m a powerful and attractive man, and what I’m about to say is deadly serious,” he continued. “Men are jackasses. From the time we’re young we have testosterone. I’m not validating it or defending it.”
Shortly after giving this quote, Simmons' testosterone was on full display when, according to The Daily Beast, Simmons barged into a staff meeting uninvited on the 14th floor and then this happened:
“Hey chicks, sue me!” he shouted, and then pulled open his red velvet shirt to reveal his chest and belly, according to the source. Then he starting telling Michael Jackson pedophilia jokes, and then bopped two employees on the head with his book, making derisive comments about their comparative intelligence according to the sound their heads made when struck.
“It was pretty severe,” the source said.
Simmons' behavior was immediately reported to human resources and HR executive Kevin Lord has decreed that Simmons is banned from Fox News for life and will not be permitted on shows on Fox News or Fox Business Network. There is a photo of him at the security entrance to the building with an advisory that he not be let onto the premises. Any future footage of Simmons that was taped during his press tour will not be released.
Update: Simmons' publicist reached out to Metal Injection with this statement in regards to the ban:
I have appeared frequently over the years on various Fox News and Fox Business programs and have a tremendous amount of respect for the talented women and men who work there. While I believe that what is being reported is highly exaggerated and misleading, I am sincerely sorry that I unintentionally offended members of the Fox team during my visit.
Meanwhile, Simmons is having what he might assume to be fun:
https://twitter.com/genesimmons/status/931231480029655041
Simmons continued to talk about women's rights on SiriusXM's The Wilkow Majority:
“What’s happening is a revolution. Women are standing up together and saying, enough is enough," @GeneSimmons told @WilkowMajority… pic.twitter.com/pu2Xl0eXJa
— SiriusXM Canada (@siriusxmcanada) November 17, 2017
