Gene Simmons is the latest in a string of musicians and public figures to speak out about the untimely death of Prince.
However, unlike most who bemoaned the tragic loss of an icon of the industry, who most agree died before his time – Simmons has come out swinging, claiming that Prince chose to “kill himself” with alcohol and drugs, despite the fact that the cause of Prince’s death has yet to be established.
Simmons even compares the death of The Purple One to that of David Bowie, whom he says truly died a tragic death. “Bowie was the most tragic of all because it was real sickness,” Simmons told Newsweek. “All the other ones were a choice.”
“[Prince’s] drugs killed him. What do you think, he died from a cold?” said Simmons, who went on to describe the death as ‘pathetic.’ “I think Prince was heads, hands and feet above all the rest of them. I thought he left [Michael] Jackson in the dust. Prince was way beyond that. But how pathetic that he killed himself. Don’t kid yourself, that’s what he did. Slowly, I’ll grant you… but that’s what drugs and alcohol is: a slow death.”
Simmons himself claims to never have “been high or drunk in my life.”
Although doctors close to Prince have claimed that he may have had an opioid addiction, Prince’s own lawyer has rubbished previous media reports that drugs contributed to his early death. It’s important to note that the official cause of Prince’s death has yet to be confirmed.
Update 11/05/2015: Gene Simmons has posted a statement to twitter apologising for his comments and admitting he was wrong to have said them.
Simmons’ Kiss bandmate Paul Stanley took to twitter to apologise for his words. “Embarrassed by cold clueless statements re Prince’s death. Without all the facts better to say nothing. My apologies”, he tweeted.
Embarrassed by cold clueless statements re Prince's death. Without all the facts better to say nothing. My apologies https://t.co/Arb5XQ4o7l
— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) May 10, 2016
Gallery: Prince’s Life In Pictures
Iconic Prince Photos
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Prince At The Bottom Line
Now this is really early days with Prince performing in NYC at the Bottom Line on February 15, 1980. (Photo by Waring Abbott/Getty Images) -
Prince At The Palladium NYC 1981
Performing off the back of his third album Controversy, even in the early days he was a force to be reckoned with onstage (Photo by Waring Abbott/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Photo Of Prince - Purple Rain Tour
Prince performing on stage - Purple Rain Tour (Photo by Richard E. Aaron/Redferns) -
Premiere of 'Purple Rain'
Prince attending the premiere of his feature film 'Purple Rain' on July 26, 1984 at Mann Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage) -
Prince performing at The Ritz
More of him performing on the Purple Rain Tour (Photo by Richard E. Aaron/Redferns) -
Prince Live At The Forum
Prince performs live at the Fabulous Forum on February 19, 1985 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Prince Live In LA
More from his iconic show at the Fabulous Forum on February 19, 1985 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
BRIT Awards 1985
Prince collects the award for Best International Artist at the British Record Industry Awards, aka the BRIT Awards with classic style in London, 11th February 1985. (Photo by Georges De Keerle/Getty Images) -
Prince Plays Guitar In Concert
Prince shredding onstage in 1985 a year after the release of Purple Rain (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images) -
Prince In UK
Prince performing in the UK, circa 1985. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images) -
Prince In Polka Dot
Always a snappy dresser, Prince rocks some polka dots on stage in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 18, 1988. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images) -
Purple One At Wembley
The purple one performing at the iconic Wembley stadium in London, 1986 in the post Purple Rain era. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images) -
Prince On Stage
Prince shows some skin while performing on stage, 1986. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) -
Prince Performs In Concert
Barechested with a guitar strapped at his waist and performing in his hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 30, 1990. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images) -
Prince Flying High In Concert
Ever the showman, Prince delights fans circa 1990. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images) -
Prince At Wembley
The purple one returns to Wembley, London, 22nd August 1990. (Photo by Graham Wiltshire/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) -
Prince Listens To Crowd In Concert
Prince holds one hand by his ear to hear the crowd response, during a concert, February 1991. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images) -
1991 MTV Video Music Awards
Prince performs at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards Held in Los Angeles, CA on September 5, 1991. Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images -
Prince In Concert
Prince in concert and in costume at Earl's Court, London, 15th June 1992. (Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images) -
Prince Performing At Radio City Music Hall
Prince performs onstage at Radio City Music Hall on March 24, 1993 in New York, New York. (Photo of Prince Photo by Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Super Bowl XLI Half-Time Press Conference Featuring Prince
Prince performs during the Super Bowl XLI Half-Time Press Conference at the Miami Convention Center on February 1, 2007 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images) -
Prince At The SCG Show In Sydney
Prince delighting Aussie fans on his early 90s Australian tour. (Photo by Patrick Riviere/Getty Images). -
Prince Headlining UK Festival 2011
Even in his later days Prince never lost his presence and energy on stage. (Photo by Neil Lupin/Redferns)
