Gene Simmons isn’t holding back when it comes to how he feels about celebrities weighing in on politics. The KISS bassist and rock legend recently delivered a blunt message for actors, comedians, and other entertainers who regularly voice political opinions. According to Gene Simmons, people in the entertainment industry should focus on their craft, not political commentary.
Gene Simmons Says Celebrities Should ‘Shut The F-ck Up’ About Politics
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When speaking to TMZ, he sarcastically said, “Yeah, because everybody in the world should listen to what actors and comedians say, because they’re so qualified.” He followed the remark with a sharper statement. “Basically, shut the f-ck up. Do your art and shut up,” Simmons said. “Nobody’s interested in your opinions.”
Simmons went on to explain that he believes many Americans are tired of being lectured by wealthy celebrities. “That includes me, who I vote for, who I like,” he continued. “Who the f do you think you are?”
The rocker argued that many everyday Americans don’t want political commentary from stars who live vastly different lives. “People in America work hard for their living,” Simmons said. “They don’t want to be lectured to by people who live in mansions and drive Rolls-Royces.”
For Simmons, the solution is simple. “It’s time for everybody in the entertainment industry to shut their pie hole and just do your art,” he said. “Nobody cares what you think. I don’t.”
Simmons Mocks Mark Ruffalo While Slamming Celebrity Political Opinions
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During the interview, Simmons also name-checked several high-profile celebrities while making his point. “What will Mark Ruffalo, however he pronounces his name, Buffalo, Ruffalo,” Simmons said. “What does Mark think about politics? I don’t care.”
He continued by pointing out how frequently entertainers are asked to weigh in on world events. “Go to Kylie Jenner and ask her what she thinks of the war so far,” he said.
Gene Simmons Previously Predicted Donald Trump’s 2016 Election Win
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Despite his current stance that entertainers should stay quiet about politics, Simmons himself has been fairly vocal on the topic in the past. Back in 2016, the musician predicted Donald Trump’s presidential victory, describing the future president as someone who could shake up the political system during an interview with Rolling Stone.
Later that year, Simmons appeared on celebrity.land and referred to Trump as a “legitimate, upstanding guy.” However, his perspective appeared to shift somewhat in the years that followed.
During a 2022 appearance on Bill Maher’s show, Simmons acknowledged that his views had evolved over time. “The person that I saw first coming into power is not the person I saw within a year or two of that,” Simmons said. “But I changed, the way lots of people changed.”
Ben Stiller Slams White House For Using ‘Tropic Thunder’ Clip In Political Video
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Simmons’ remarks come as tensions between Hollywood figures and political leaders continue to play out publicly. Recently, Ben Stiller criticized the Trump White House after a social media post used a clip from the 2008 film “Tropic Thunder.”
The video, which included scenes from movies like “Braveheart,” “Top Gun,” “Superman,” “Transformers,” “Iron Man 2,” and “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” was captioned “Justice the American way.”
Stiller quickly pushed back on X, formerly Twitter. “Hey White House, please remove the Tropic Thunder clip,” Stiller wrote. “We never gave you permission and have no interest in being a part of your propaganda machine. War is not a movie.”
Artists Push Back After Music And Films Were Used In Political Videos Without Permission
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Stiller isn’t the only entertainer to object to their work being used in political messaging. Last year, a post featuring Sabrina Carpenter’s song “Juno” was used alongside footage depicting ICE raids. The White House had previously drawn attention for using Taylor Swift’s track “The Fate of Ophelia” in a celebratory video about Trump, despite the president’s history of criticizing the pop star on social media.
More recently, “Top Gun” songwriter Kenny Loggins spoke out after his hit song “Danger Zone” was used in a video showing Trump flying over protestors. “This is an unauthorized use of my performance of ‘Danger Zone,'” Loggins said. “Nobody asked me for my permission, which I would have denied, and I request that my recording on this video is removed immediately.”
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