Gene Simmons “vigorously” denies claims of sexual misconduct

Gene Simmons
Gene Simmons (Image credit: Getty)

Kiss bassist and vocalist Gene Simmons is facing a lawsuit filed by a Californian radio and TV broadcaster who has accused him of sexual misconduct.

Court papers show that the woman, who is listed under the pseudonym Jane Doe, has filed the suit accusing Simmons of “unwarranted, unwanted sexual advances, touching and battery.”

The incident is said to have taken place in November at the Rock & Brews restaurant in San Bernardino during an interview, where it’s alleged Simmons made “several aggressive, unwanted sexual advances, despite Doe’s active and clear discouragement.”

Court papers say that Simmons “reached over and grabbed Doe’s hand and forcefully placed it on his knee and held it on his knee.” Doe withdrew her hand but later in the interview, it’s alleged that Simmons again reached for her, but Doe “was able to push his hand away with her elbow before he touched her hand.”

As the interview continued, Simmons is said to have turned interview questions into sexual innuendoes, again reached for Doe’s hand and then “forcibly flicked/struck Doe in the middle of her throat” causing Doe to attempt to shut the interview down.

The papers add that after the interview, a promotional group photograph was taken, and that Simmons “reached towards Doe’s buttocks and touched it.”

Simmons has now responded to the lawsuit on Facebook, where he has “vigorously” denied the allegations.

Simmons says: “Friends, I intend to defend myself against any alleged charges you may have been reading about in the media.

“For the record, I did not assault the person making these accusations in the manner alleged in the complaint or harm her in any way.

“I am conferring with my lawyers with the aim of vigorously countering these allegations. And I look forward to my day in court where the evidence will prove my innocence.”

Last month, Simmons apologised to staff at Fox News after he reportedly barged into a meeting and introduced himself by exclaiming, “Hey chicks, sue me!”, then proceeded to pull open his shirt to reveal his torso, tell jokes about Michael Jackson and paedophilia, tap attendees on the head with copies of his new book, and insult their intelligence.

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Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent more than 30 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, scouts out the best deals for music fans and reviews headphones, speakers, books and more. He's written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog and has previous written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.