Gene Simmons on depression comments: 'I was wrong'

Singer told people with depression, 'kill yourself'

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After basically everyone who wasn't Gene Simmons slammed the Kiss singer for telling depressed people, "kill yourself", Simmons has offered an apology.

The singer revealed his shockingly ignorant views during a Q&A published by SongFacts, and has since been justifiably labelled a "moron" by Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx.

The musician was asked if he still gets along with the original members of Kiss, to which he replied: "No, I don't get along with anybody who's a drug addict and has a dark cloud over their head and sees themselves as a victim. ... For a putz, 20-year-old kid to say, 'I'm depressed, I live in Seattle.'

"Fuck you, then kill yourself. I never understand, because I always call them on their bluff. I'm the guy who says 'Jump!' when there's a guy on top of a building who says, 'That's it, I can't take it anymore, I'm going to jump.' Are you kidding? Why are you announcing it? Shut the fuck up, have some dignity and jump!"

After the singer's comments caused outrage, with Australian radio station Triple M removing all Kiss songs from their playlists, Simmons has posted an apology on his Facebook page.

The statement says, "To the extent my comments reported by the media speak of depression, I was wrong and in the spur of the moment made remarks that in hindsight were made without regard for those who truly suffer the struggles of depression." He adds: "My heart goes out to anyone suffering from depression."

Simmons' full apology is below.

"I want to make this statement about my views on depression for the record and to clarify my prior remarks.

To the extent my comments reported by the media speak of depression, I was wrong and in the spur of the moment made remarks that in hindsight were made without regard for those who truly suffer the struggles of depression. I sincerely apologize to those who were offended by my comments. I recognize that depression is very serious and very sad when it happens to anyone, especially loved ones. I deeply support and am empathetic to anyone suffering from any disease, especially depression.

I have never sugarcoated my feelings regarding drug use and alcoholics. Somewhere along the line, my intention of speaking in very directly and perhaps politically incorrectly about drug use and alcoholics has been misconstrued as vile commentary on depression. Unkind statements about depression was certainly never my intention. Fully, you will know that and I do not intend to defend myself here and now, by listing the myriad charities and self-help organizations I am involved with. Rather, I simply want to be clear that my heart goes out to anyone suffering from depression and I deeply regret any offhand remarks in the heat of an interview that might have suggested otherwise."