Gene Simmons Is Sorry for Telling Depressed People to Kill Themselves
Gene Simmons has issued an apology on Facebook after taking part in an interview during which he told those suffering from depression, "fuck you, then kill yourself." All better?
Simmons begins, "I want to make this statement about my views on depression for the record and to clarify my prior remarks." (His prior remarks that were, to be sure, both very clear and on the record.) He continues:
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.
OK.
As Stereogum points out, Simmons has yet to apologize for his numerous other recent Facebook-apology-worthy remarks.
