In a lengthy career of saying dumb, stupid things, Gene Simmons’ latest offering is an especially shimmery turd.
As you might may have heard, KISS and Simmons were among the honorees at this past weekend’s Kennedy Center Honors. During his trip down the red carpet, Simmons had the following to say about Trump’s new multi-million-dollar ballroom for the White House.
“I believe the ballroom that’s being built, which is going to be twice as big, that is exactly what we need — a face-lift,” Simmons said (via The New York Times). “Have you ever been to Versailles? The American house of the people is shameful.”
There’s a few takeaways to discuss from this, the latest of what I call “Gene Simmons’ Cerebral Droppings.”
First, he’d already earned the prize, and doubling down on the flattery feels unbecoming of rock’s controversial bad boy.
Secondly, outside of the MAGA movement, the ballroom is near-universally despised. Not only does it boast a price tag exceeding $300 million, it also demolished the storied East Wing and destroyed “historically significant” magnolia trees..
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Third, referencing the Palace of Versailles is rich considering King Louis XIV built it as a demonstration of his “absolute monarchy” over the people of France. It’s an irony I assume is entirely lost on Simmons.
Should we be surprised by the fecklessness and ignorance of anything Simmons says this day or any other in the last 50-plus years? No. However, it’s still staggering that such a privileged and influential person continues to spew the most half-cocked takes humanly possible. Because at some point, between this opinion, his recent comments on Ace Frehley’s passing, student protests against Israel, and even way back to his support of George W. Bush, you’ve got to wonder if he’s got the brains and chutzpah he believes or if it’s all just a bad, greedy gimmick.
But, hey, maybe we can blame these latest comments on that recent car accident?
