Gene Simmons' Comments on Ace Frehley's Death Spark Outrage, Apology Follows
In a statement released after the death of his former KISS bandmate Ace Frehley, Gene Simmons initially sparked outrage with comments that many deemed insensitive and hurtful. In an interview earlier this week, Simmons stated that Frehley "refused advice from people that cared about him... to try to change his lifestyle," which included references to the guitarist's struggles with addiction and poor decision-making.
However, in a recent social media post, Simmons has issued a public apology for his words. "On reflection, I was wrong for using the words I used," he wrote on X. "I humbly apologize... My hand to God, I didn’t intended to hurt Ace or his legacy but upon rereading my words, I see how it hurt everyone. Again, I apologize. I’ve always loved Ace. Always."
The apology comes after Simmons attended a private ceremony in the Bronx alongside bandmates Paul Stanley and Peter Criss, where he paid tribute to Frehley as "an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history." In a joint statement, Simmons and Stanley referred to Frehley's contributions to KISS.
Frehley's legacy was also celebrated by his love for music that led him to join KISS in 1973. He played with the band until 1982 before making reunion appearances in 1996 and departing once again following a farewell tour in 2002. The cause of his death, revealed as blunt trauma injuries to his head following a fall, has been met with an outpouring of tributes from fans and fellow musicians alike.
Simmons' recent apology highlights the complexities of grief and the need for sensitivity when speaking about the passing of a loved one. His words have sparked outrage initially, but ultimately serve as a testament to his enduring love and respect for Frehley's legacy.
In a statement released after the death of his former KISS bandmate Ace Frehley, Gene Simmons initially sparked outrage with comments that many deemed insensitive and hurtful. In an interview earlier this week, Simmons stated that Frehley "refused advice from people that cared about him... to try to change his lifestyle," which included references to the guitarist's struggles with addiction and poor decision-making.
However, in a recent social media post, Simmons has issued a public apology for his words. "On reflection, I was wrong for using the words I used," he wrote on X. "I humbly apologize... My hand to God, I didn’t intended to hurt Ace or his legacy but upon rereading my words, I see how it hurt everyone. Again, I apologize. I’ve always loved Ace. Always."
The apology comes after Simmons attended a private ceremony in the Bronx alongside bandmates Paul Stanley and Peter Criss, where he paid tribute to Frehley as "an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history." In a joint statement, Simmons and Stanley referred to Frehley's contributions to KISS.
Frehley's legacy was also celebrated by his love for music that led him to join KISS in 1973. He played with the band until 1982 before making reunion appearances in 1996 and departing once again following a farewell tour in 2002. The cause of his death, revealed as blunt trauma injuries to his head following a fall, has been met with an outpouring of tributes from fans and fellow musicians alike.
Simmons' recent apology highlights the complexities of grief and the need for sensitivity when speaking about the passing of a loved one. His words have sparked outrage initially, but ultimately serve as a testament to his enduring love and respect for Frehley's legacy.
... I mean, it took him a whole week to come clean about how hurtful his comments were? That's just good PR, you know? But seriously, what was he thinking? Trying to make Ace Frehley look like some kind of reckless addict in front of the world? Classy move, Gene. 
. It's all about maintaining that KISS legacy, right? But honestly, if you're gonna bury the dead, at least have the decency to do it with some respect 
. Still, I guess you've got to admire Simmons for owning up to his mistake... even if it was a little too little, too late 
.
. like, who hasn't made some questionable choices when it comes to booze or pills? 
. it takes a big person to admit when they're wrong, especially when it comes to something as sensitive as talking about someone's passing 
.
. you can't just brush off his contributions like they don't matter 
.
. let's just focus on celebrating ace's life and legacy instead of tearing each other down 
.
? Gene Simmons' initial comments were, like, totally outta line 
... or in this case, apologizing and then apologizing again 
! It's all about perception, right? Some people might say he was trying to shift the blame from himself, but honestly, who hasn't said something hurtful in a moment of grief? 
At least he owned up to it and took responsibility. That takes guts, or at least some level of self-awareness 
. It's not about being insensitive; it's about being sensitive to how our words affect others 
? It's about time, tbh. The fact that he had to apologize at all makes me wonder if his words were ever genuinely meant as a tribute or if they were just some calculated attempt to salvage his reputation 
. I get it, we're human and we make mistakes, but the way he initially phrased things was pretty reckless 
. It's all about how we handle tough situations and express our feelings 
. Like, who says that about someone who's gone? It hurts my heart 
. I love how he's taking responsibility for his words and showing that he truly cares about Ace's legacy 
. KISS was more than just a band to Ace, they were his family 
and Gene's apology is proof of that. Rest in peace, Ace 
... now lets all just take a moment 2 celebrate Ace's life & music 
but also make it easy for us to retract or apologize later