Paul Stanley Responds to Nikki Sixx’s Gene Simmons Comments: ‘Would You Please Shut Up’
Paul Stanley might be willing to publicly express frustration with Gene Simmons, but that doesn't mean he'll sit idly by while others pile on his fellow Kiss co-founder.
As previously reported, Simmons' ill-advised decision to characterize Prince's death as "pathetic" has triggered an avalanche of online commentary — some of it from Stanley, who publicly apologized for Simmons' remarks while deeming them "cold" and "clueless." Stanley's disapproval led to a testy exchange with Simmons' wife, but Stanley stuck to his guns — and now, like a kid who knows it's okay to give your brother noogies as long as you've got his back when anyone outside the family tries to start trouble, he's come to Simmons' defense against Nikki Sixx.
Sixx was one of Simmons' most vocal detractors following his Prince remark, and evidently wasn't swayed by Simmons' subsequent apology. Sixx has continued to express his disgust toward his onetime musical hero's public behavior, most recently referring to him as "lucky" and "overrated" while suggesting Simmons retire. Stanley, meanwhile, has had enough.
"Jesus Christ, Nikki Sixx! Would you please shut up, find another way to be in the news and get off your self inflated pedestal," Stanley wrote on Facebook. "Regardless of some things Gene Simmons has said that I may take issue with, his influence on musicians (you included) is undeniable and will continue. More importantly, his work, generosity and monetary contributions to numerous causes and charities for those less fortunate makes your ongoing rant, in the scheme of things, the unimportant but annoying squeak it truly is."
Sixx fired back with his own Facebook post, noting that Simmons' philanthropic efforts, while worth applauding, don't erase his hurtful remarks. "We all give to charities and support our troops, etc., because that's the right thing to do with our success," he wrote. "Telling a depressed kid to kill themselves etc. etc. etc. etc. is not. ... So don't confuse issues."
Sixx also laughed off Stanley's criticism, saying, "Looks like good old Paul doesn't like that someone called out his buddy Gene again. ... I will give him a standing ovation for calling out Gene himself publicly and then trying to hold my feet to the same fire, but you can't save him. If the press wants to run with a story, they got legs and we all know they need fresh content."
Stanley closed his post by urging Sixx to "move on," to which Sixx suggested "that's a great name for the next Kiss album" and offered "love to the Starchild." As Kiss fans know, Stanley's already used that title — and revisiting that song here seems like the best way to be done with this story.
Listen to Paul Stanley's 'Move On'
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