Gene Simmons Faces A Lawsuit Over Alleged Sexual Misconduct

By no means do I want to sound like I’m victim-blaming, but we’re absolutely spiraling out of control. There are many women who were legitimately sexually harassed and/or abused, and accusations like these do nothing to advance the cause of women who were TRULY traumatized and TRULY abused.

An unnamed woman is suing Kiss’ Gene Simmons for making “unwarranted sexual advances” during an interview, which occurred at Rock & Brews restaurant in Highland, Calif. Nov. 1. She claims Simmons “forcefully” put her hand on his knee and “held it on his knee.”

If it sounds like she’s suing Simmons for allegedly forcing her to touch his knee, it’s because she’s suing Simmons for allegedly forcing her to touch his knee.

A KNEE you guys. We’re talking about A KNEE. Not to mention that she supposedly removed her hand from his knee with ease.

The lawsuit states the woman immediately removed her hand from Simmons’ knee.

She also claims Simmons made “unwanted, unwarranted sexual advances” by– wait for it– touching her hand again.

“Defendant Simmons turned standard interview questions into sexual innuendos, which made plaintiff Doe extremely uncomfortable,” according to the lawsuit, noting that Simmons grabbed the woman’s hand again, made a cooing sound and said she “must use lotion” before making another sexual innuendo. He then “forcibly flicked/struck” the woman in the middle of her throat, then provided an “incoherent explanation” for doing it after noticing the woman’s shock, according to the lawsuit.

The woman’s attorney, Willie W. Williams, would not reveal where his client worked. The lawsuit identifies her as a “long-time on-air personality for a local rock station.”

I’m still stuck on the knee thing. I don’t know– maybe Simmons is someone who talks with his hands. I move my hands around a lot when I talk and sometimes touch people’s shoulders without even realizing it. People communicate differently. I’ll admit that forcibly flicking someone’s throat is pretty freaking weird, but I’m not sure I’d characterize that as sexual harassment.

“My client is embarrassed and humiliated by the incident with Mr. Simmons,” Williams said in a telephone interview Friday. He said his client is not seeking publicity and wished to remain anonymous.

“She filed suit because she wanted to make a strong statement that this behavior is unacceptable and she wants to see an end to this type of behavior,” Williams said.

If she wanted to make a strong statement, why didn’t she release her name? If he truly did those things and she wants her claims to appear more credible, why is she concealing her identity? It’s not like she’s a rape victim. She’s accusing Simmons of making her touch his knee. What’s the risk here?

There’s one other thing that’s a big red flag for me. The lawsuit states that they took pictures together afterward.

“Again, Plaintiff Doe kept her composure and discreetly moved away,” the lawsuit states. “They took the pictures, but Plaintiff Doe declined the invitation to ‘stay around.’”

I’m sorry, but if I truly felt like someone sexually harassed me (or was even incredibly inappropriate), I WOULD NOT stick around and take pictures with that individual.

Gene Simmons adamantly denies the claims. He said he’s determined to prove his innocence.

pic.twitter.com/yWshmllPwF

— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) December 17, 2017

What do you think?

h/t The Orange County Register