Gene Simmons Apologises For Calling Prince’s Death ‘Pathetic’

Gene Simmons has apologised for the comments he made this week, in which he branded Prince’s tragic death ‘pathetic’.

Comparing Prince’s death to the sad passing of David Bowie, the Kiss frontman said: “Bowie was the most tragic of all because it was real sickness. All the other ones were a choice.”

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Asked by Newsweek Europe whether he thought the ‘Purple Rain’ singer’s death was tragic, he added: “His drugs killed him. What do you think, he died from a cold?

“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.”

He went on to say Prince’s tragic early death at the age of 57 has helped his legacy become bigger.

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In a statement posted on his Twitter and Instagram, Gene has now apologised for his comments, writing: “I just got such s**t from my family for my big mouth again. I apologize — I have a long history of getting very angry at what drugs do to the families/friends of the addicts.

“I get angry at drug users because of my experience being around them coming up in the rock scene. In my experience they’ve made my life, and the lives of their loved ones, difficult.”

He went on to say he ‘didn’t express himself properly’, adding: “I don’t shy away from controversy, and angry critics really don’t bother me at all. If I think I’m right, I’ll throw up a finger and dig my heels in and laugh. But this time, I was not. So, my apologies.”