Paul Stanley apologises for Gene Simmons' 'cold, clueless statements' about Prince's death
Hours later Gene also says sorry for his “big mouth.”
Never one to keep his oft controversial views to himself, Gene Simmons has landed in hot water once again after he called Prince’s death “pathetic.”
Despite the results of Prince’s autopsy being inconclusive and the full results of a toxicology report yet to be released, Gene hasn’t held back in his views on the late music legend’s sad demise.
Speaking to Newsweek, the KISS bassist said: “(David) Bowie was the most tragic (death) of all because it was real sickness. All the other ones were a choice.”
Referring directly to Prince, Gene added: “His drugs killed him. What do you think, he died from a cold?
“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.”
Shortly after Gene’s comments hit headlines across the globe, Gene’s KISS band mate Paul Stanley said sorry on his behalf and distanced himself from the comments.
> 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
He tweeted: “Embarrassed by cold clueless statements re Prince's death. Without all the facts better to say nothing. My apologies.”
Five hours later, Gene himself issued a lengthy retractment on his social media channels, writing: “I got such s*** from my family for my big mouth again. I apologise. I have a long history of getting very angry at what drugs do to the families/friends of the addicts.
“I was raised in a culture where addicts were written off as losers and 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, dig my heels in and laugh. But this time, I was not. So, my apologies.”
Gene also took a parting shot at the press for the clickbait headlines and hit out at “journalists quote-mining things I’ve said in the past and applying it to new situations.
“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.”
> pic.twitter.com/OvpB6pvES8 > > — Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) May 11, 2016