KISS star Gene Simmons has taken aim at celebrities who speak out about politics, arguing that actors and musicians should stop lecturing the public and stick to their work. In remarks to TMZ, the Kiss co-founder singled out Ben Stiller and Mark Ruffalo while reacting to public criticism of President Donald Trump following US airstrikes on Iran. Simmons used blunt language and said entertainers who live in luxury should not tell working Americans what to think about war, elections, or national politics.
Gene Simmons on celebrities and politics
Simmons did not hold back. “Basically, shut the f–k up,” he said. “Do your art and shut up. Nobody’s interested in your opinions, that includes me. Who I vote for. Who I like.” He went further, adding, “Who the f–k do you think you are? People in America work hard for a living and they don’t want to be lectured to by people who live in mansions and drive Rolls-Royces. It’s time for everybody in the entertainment industry to shut their piehole.” Simmons also said no one cares what stars think about war or political issues and joked that asking actors for foreign policy views made as much sense as asking Kylie Jenner.
Ben Stiller and Mark Ruffalo’s reactions
The comments came as Stiller and Ruffalo publicly criticized Trump online. Stiller recently objected to the White House using a clip from his 2008 film ‘Tropic Thunder.’ In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Stiller wrote, “Hey White House, please remove the Tropic Thunder clip. We never gave you permission and have no interest in being a part of your propaganda machine. War is not a movie.”Ruffalo also posted criticism after the Iran strikes. In the report, he shared an article on Threads about Jared Kushner and wrote, “He [Kushner] was sent to make sure we went to war.” In an earlier March 2 post on X (previously Twitter), Ruffalo urged followers to contact lawmakers and say, “No war with Iran! Two critical votes are happening in both chambers to stop Trump’s illegal, devastating war.”The report also noted that Simmons has shifted in public over time. During a 2022 appearance on Bill Maher’s ‘Club Random’ podcast, he said he initially welcomed Trump’s 2016 win because he thought “a businessman is coming in.” Later in the same conversation, Simmons said people should keep political opinions private and vote instead. His latest remarks show he still holds that view, even as they draw fresh attention online.
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