Just weeks after Gene Simmons of Kiss was banned for life from Fox News for “sexist antics,” he has been hit with a lawsuit accusing him of sexual misconduct. The lawsuit alleges that Simmons made unwarranted advances on a radio and TV broadcaster — identified as “Jane Doe” to stay anonymous — during an on-camera interview this past November at the Rock & Brews restaurant he co-founded.
According to the lawsuit, which you can read here, “Defendant Simmons reached over and grabbed plaintiff Doe’s hand and, forcefully, placed it on his knee and held it on his knee. Immediately, plaintiff Doe, feeling that this was an unwanted sexual advance, nervously yet immediately, removed her hand from his knee. Despite feeling extremely uncomfortable, plaintiff Doe continued the interview. Defendant Simmons, however, continued his unwanted, unwarranted sexual advances by reaching for plaintiff Doe’s hand again.”
The lawsuit continues, adding, “Throughout the interview, defendant Simmons turned standard interview questions into sexual innuendos, which made plaintiff Doe extremely uncomfortable. Defendant Simmons then made another attempt to grab plaintiff Doe’s hand and was successful in grabbing her hand. Upon feeling her hand, defendant Simmons then commented with a cooing sound, that she ‘must use lotion’ and then proceeded with another sexual innuendo directed at plaintiff Doe.”
Shortly after that, Simmons “abruptly reached over to plaintiff Doe and forcibly flicked/struck plaintiff doe in the middle of her throat. Upon observing the impact of the hit and the reaction of shock by the co-host, defendant Simmons provided an incoherent explanation for flicking/striking her throat.”
After the interview, Simmons and Doe took “customary promotional pictures,” at which time Simmons allegedly “reached towards plaintiff Doe’s buttocks and touched it.”
Gene Simmons denied the allegations in a statement given to Ultimate Classic Rock. He said, “I intend to defend myself against any alleged charges you may have been reading about in the media. For the record, I did not assault the person making these accusations in the manner alleged in the complaint or harm her in any way. I am conferring with my lawyers with the aim of vigorously countering these allegations. And, I look forward to my day in court where the evidence will prove my innocence.”