Kiss’ Gene Simmons to people with depression: ‘Kill yourself’
Allow me to preface this by saying this is the worst, most ignorant interview with a celebrity that I can remember reading — and not just because it’s in light of Robin Williams’ suicide. The comments you are about to read from Kiss’ Gene Simmons are not acceptable, funny or edgy. They are, at best, ignorant and, at worst, destructive.
Ok, have you braced yourself? Here’s what the new Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee told Songfacts on July 31…
For a putz, 20-year-old kid to say, “I’m depressed, I live in Seattle.” F**k you, then kill yourself. I never understand, because I always call them on their bluff. I’m the guy who says “Jump!” when there’s a guy on top of a building who says, “That’s it, I can’t take it anymore, I’m going to jump.” Are you kidding? Why are you announcing it? Shut the f**k up, have some dignity and jump! You’ve got the crowd.
The newly publicized comments are, for good reason, attracting criticism from both fans and peers.
“I love KISS… But Gene lacks integrity and class. I’ve never been depressed, so I can’t possibly understand it,” one person commented on the original story. “However, a public figure who no doubt has a 20-year-old fan suffering from depression, should not be encouraging him to kill himself.”
Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx also spoke out against his “friend” in a podcast this week.
“Here’s my problem: I am a recovering drug addict. If I had done what Gene Simmons said and that is to jump, I would have missed out on so many wonderful things in my life,” Nikki said. “I was depressed. Drugs helped me suppress that… There’s almost 15 million Americans that are depressed. Gene Simmons says I should have killed myself or, if you out there are depressed, you should just kill yourself. Fifteen million people should just kill themselves.”
He later added on Twitter…
I wonder if @genesimmons would still say how depressed people or addicts should kill themselves if it happend to his wife or kids?
— Nikki Sixx (@NikkiSixx) August 13, 2014
Gene hasn’t apologized and it seems unlikely that he will considering controversy seems to be something he embraces these days: In an interview with HuffPost Live this week, he said immigrants need to “learn godd**n English.”
Gene’s obviously ignorant beliefs aside, one thing I’ve really been impressed by this week is the outpouring of support for people battling depression, addictions or other demons. There is so much help available… Suicide isn’t the answer.
