I don’t know if this is rock ‘n roll or just pathetic.
I’m going to go with rock ‘n roll, with a thread of pathetic.
Apparently, there’s a line that can be crossed with Fox News, when it comes to some of their favorite guests. Hard rock legend and Kiss frontman, Gene Simmons, found that out, after what ended up being a disastrous visit over at Fox News on Wednesday.
For starters, the 68-year old Simmons (real name: Chaim Witz) was there to appear with the wacky Fox & Friends crew, and then to slide over to the Fox Business show, Mornings with Maria, with host Maria Bartiromo.
It started well enough. The aging rocker delighted the hosts with an impromptu weather report, alongside Janice Dean, and he did pretty well.
He did well enough that Fox posted the video.
WATCH: @genesimmons helps @JaniceDean with the weather pic.twitter.com/5nJyLeTATe
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 15, 2017
Later, while sitting with Bartiromo, she decided it would be a good idea to ask Gene Simmons – given his well-cultivated reputation for sleeping with tons of groupies over his long career – what he thought of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
Simmons was apparently having some sort of “senior moment,” and he reverted to his stage persona.
“The lunatics have taken over the insane asylum when respected business entities such as yourself ask guys that like to stick their tongues out,” Simmons answered, “what I think of Harvey Weinstein.”
“Okay, I’m a powerful and attractive man, and what I’m about to say is deadly serious,” he continued. “Men are jackasses. From the time we’re young we have testosterone. I’m not validating it or defending it.”
Ok. Wow.
It didn’t stop there. His next stop was the 14th floor of the building, where he was due to plug a new book with the entertainment section of FoxNews.com. What he did next would actually be legend, if done in a Vegas hotel, at 2am after a concert.
Rather than just go in for his interview, Simmons barged into what turned out to be a staff meeting, and then acted the fool.
“Hey chicks, sue me!” he shouted, and then pulled open his red velvet shirt to reveal his chest and belly, according to the source. Then he starting telling Michael Jackson pedophilia jokes, and then bopped two employees on the head with his book, making derisive comments about their comparative intelligence according to the sound their heads made when struck.
“It was pretty severe,” the source said.
The interview with FoxNews.com was taped, but they’ve decided against using it.
Also, after a supervisor, and then human resources executive Kevin Lord was informed, the decision was made to banish the “demon” from the building.
Simmons will no longer be invited back to any Fox News or Fox Business Network program, nor will he be allowed in the building.
His picture was posted at the security entrance, with instructions not to allow him in the building.
I can’t begin to imagine what made him believe this behavior was ok, especially with as hyper-sensitive as the world has become, regarding any kind of perceived harassment.
I guess he’s an old dog, desperate to remain relevant. He took a gamble and it backfired.
Sorry, Gene. This just wasn’t your crowd.
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