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Artist News Legal Media
Gene Simmons settles sexual misconduct lawsuit with journalist
By Andy Malt | Published on Tuesday 10 July 2018
Gene Simmons has settled a lawsuit accusing him of sexual battery during an interview last year.
A journalist, identified in legal documents only as ‘Jane Doe’, sued the Kiss bassist in December. She said that while interviewing Simmons about the opening of a new branch of the Rock & Brews restaurant in San Bernadino, California – a chain of which the Kiss man is a co-owner – he made “several aggressive, unwanted sexual advances”.
Despite “active and clear discouragement”, she claimed, the musician “turned standard interview questions into sexual innuendo” throughout their conversation. He is also alleged to have “forcibly flicked/struck plaintiff Doe in the throat”, at which point she attempted to terminate the interview, all of which was filmed. He also touched her buttocks while posing for a promotional photograph, it was claimed.
At the time, Simmons “vigorously” denied the allegations. He added: “I look forward to my day in court where the evidence will prove my innocence”.
It now looks like that day will not come, as new court documents have been filed seeking to dismiss the case after both sides reached a settlement. The terms of that agreement are not clear and it still needs court approval.
Last November, Simmons was also banned from Fox News’s offices for alleged sexist behaviour while in the building for an interview.
