Gene Simmons Disses Prince, Internet Freaks Out

So this happened. Gene Simmons made some nasty comments about Prince, basically blaming the singer's death on drugs. This comes just days after Gene gushed over how wonderful and iconic Prince was to music - and the world.

Gene gave an interview to Newsweek. The money quote from the interview is this:

"I think Prince was heads, hands and feet above all the rest of them. I thought he left [Michael] Jackson in the dust. Prince was way beyond that. But how pathetic that he killed himself. Don’t kid yourself, that’s what he did. Slowly, I’ll grant you... but that’s what drugs and alcohol is: a slow death.”

Now, I'm pretty anti-drug myself. So I don't totally disagree with what Gene is saying here. But I think this is an issue of class. You don't start trashing the dead before the body is even cold, you know? Of course, Gene was trending for hours yesterday after these comments hit the Internet.

As you can imagine, people were not happy. Here's some random Twitter reaction:

Dear Gene Simmons:

Kindly STFU about Prince. You sound like a complete idiot who is desperately trying to stay relevant.

Thanks.

— Bonnie Jett Adams (@bjettadams) May 10, 2016

Gene Simmons called Prince's death pathetic. Just another reason why he should keep his tongue in his mouth

— Eliza Bayne (@ElizaBayne) May 10, 2016

Gene Simmons, the only thing "pathetic" in this equation is you and your talentless band.

— Liberal Metalhead (@BigSamSFO28Left) May 11, 2016

And by nightfall, Paul Stanley inevitably apologized for Gene. Yes, full circle.

Update at 9:03 a.m. May 11 - Gene has apologized for his remarks!

pic.twitter.com/OvpB6pvES8

— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) May 11, 2016