By EVAN ALDO
The frontman of the rock band Kiss, Gene Simmons, has been banned for life from the right-leaning Fox cable channels.
Formally Simmons was a favorite guest on Fox News and Fox Business Network programs, which loved his rock star antics and conservative political views. However, Fox just could not take him anymore after he insulted female Fox staffers, exposed his chest to them and behaved like the “demon” character that he plays on stage.
As a response, Fox’s management posted Simmon’s photograph to the security entrance of the company’s Manhattan headquarters with a “do-not-admit” stamp.
The incident began when Simmons appeared on Maria Bartiromo’s Fox Business Network show, “Mornings with Maria,” to promote his new book “On Power.”
All went well until Bartiromo asked Simmons his views on the Harvey Weinstein sexual-misconduct scandal.
“Okay, I’m a powerful and attractive man and what I’m about to say is deadly serious. Men are jackasses,” Simmons answered. “From the time we’re young we have testosterone. I’m not validating it or defending it.”
Right after this, Simmons left the interview and barged into a staff meeting in Fox’s entertainment section completely uninvited.
“Hey chicks, sue me!” he shouted, before pulling up his shirt to reveal is chest. Then, he began to tell pedophilia jokes and insulted the intelligence of the Fox employees in the room.
“It was pretty severe,” said one person who was present in the room.
This story has gained some substantial news media attention. It was featured on the New York Post. However, the most important question to ask is: Why in the world Fox was having Simmons come on their shows?
The “Fox and Friends” show had previously let Simmons do a weather forecast in their broadcast. Watching the clip on YouTube of this made me feel as if I was watching the “The Jerry Springer Show.”
If the major news media continue to participate in this nonsense for a few extra views, then we are heading to an America that will be far less intelligent.
Although I believe it is justified to have unusual guests who specialize in “shock value” on once in a while, this clearly crosses the line by a mile.
Media giants such as Fox allowing people to blatantly spew ignorance on their shows is something that must go.
Even though Fox News banned Simmons from the network, I am certain another station or network will pick him up and allow him to partake in the same ignorance.
Anything for money. Anything for views. We live in troubled times.