KISS fans never know exactly what to expect from Gene Simmons. The outspoken, opinionated rocker did not disappoint during his recent interview with the Scripps News anchor Maritsa Georgiou on Monday. Needless to say, Gene took control of the interview, leaving her stunned, confused, and likely a little creeped out by the time it was over.
Gene Simmons, 76 and still thriving on shock value, was wrapping up what was supposed to be a straightforward conversation about musicians fighting for radio royalties. He had reunited with his KISS bandmates at a major honors event earlier in the month, and everything seemed properly buttoned up. That is, until he suddenly derailed the interview by shifting his attention from policy to the anchor herself, according to the Daily Mail.
As she offered him a polite on-air goodbye, Simmons abruptly stopped everything to ask if she was “still modeling.” Her confusion said it all. She wasn’t, of course, and had never claimed to be. But Simmons, ever the showman, acted as though he was the one surprised. The whole move came off like a stray pickup line from a man who hasn’t updated his approach since the late ’70s.
This wasn’t the first time his behavior around women raised eyebrows, and honestly, he seems perfectly fine with that reputation. KISS fans have known for decades that Gene Simmons has spoken openly and proudly about his escapades on the road.
He has long claimed to have slept with nearly 5,000 women, boasting that he even documented many of them with Polaroids until his longtime partner, Shannon Tweed, demanded that he burn the entire stash before she agreed to marry him. And so the bonfire burned for days.
Gene Simmons Interview Gives Viewers The Ic
The man built a persona around his excess with women, money, and his outrageous spectacle became part of his brand. So when he slips into that familiar behavior even on a live TV interview, it hardly shocks anyone. However, at his now advanced age, it just makes most everyone cringe.
Simmons has always leaned into his outspoken, unapologetic personality. Whether he’s lecturing musicians about money, calling out radio corporations for profiting off their work, or insisting KISS changed the face of performance forever. He seemingly thrives on drama.
“He is creepy, disgusting in every way possible, yuck!” one commenter writes. “Cut off his hair and change his glasses, and he’s just another nasty old dude, sitting in the Dr.’s office,” another chimes in. “He never fails to say stupid, self-indulgent things that impress himself,” a third states.“It’s classic Gene Simmons. The interviewer knew what she was in for before the interview. If she didn’t know, she didn’t do her homework,” one more adds.
He’s survived pyrotechnic mishaps, stage accidents, and, most recently, a car crash earlier this year that left his wife hinting that maybe it was time to take away the aging rocker’s keys. Even that didn’t seem to slow him down.
After the awkward exchange, the anchor maintained her composure, ending the interview as gracefully as possible. Simmons, meanwhile, slipped back into his usual charm, as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened at all. And for him, it hadn’t.
But online, viewers and fans weren’t so quick to let it slide. The interview clips spread fast. People couldn’t decide if it was creepy, clueless, or just classic Gene. In the end, cringey as it seemingly was, the moment was classic Gene Simmons. The rock icon never stops giving the world something to talk about. And judging by this latest interview, he has no intention of changing anytime soon.
