Posted on 06/28/2009 6:02:33 PM PDT by My Favorite Headache
KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons has issued the following statement (via his Facebook page) regarding the passing of pop music legend Michael Jackson, who died Thursday (June 25) at age 50:
"[I've] gotten a lot of questions from media and from quite a lot of you [regarding] Michael Jackson.
"I have refused all media requests for interviews. There are enough people in the industry being quoted. Some altruistically, some for media coverage.
"Either way... When I was going out with Diana Ross in the early '80s, I met Michael a few times through her. We spent social time together. Found him to be gentle, charming... obviously very talented. And that was that.
"The Michael of later years is someone I didn't recognize... nor like very much.
"When there are children involved... when there are allegations (many) of child molestation... when there are admissions of inviting countless young boys to spend weekends and sometimes Michael's bed with them (Michael's quote), clothed or unclothed... makes no difference... when there are payoffs to the children making the accusations in the $20,000,000 range ($20 million dollars!!! as reported by media) ....There's more than doubt in my mind.
"This doesn't take into consideration Michael's children... none of whom are biologically his. All three of whom have had a 'strange' upbringing. But then we don't know much, except a 'father' who thought nothing of dangling his young child over the balcony (head covered in a towel), so his fans could get a thrill.
"So what's my comment regarding Michael's passing? I hope he finds peace. I wish his family and friends all the best in these very sad times.
"But as regards media coverage: celebs can always get media coverage.
"But what about the children who spent nights with Michael in his bed? (He has admitted on camera he has done it many times, and would continue to do it.) They need a voice. And they should have a chance to have their say. With lie detectors attached. Maybe then, away from rich celebrities, tricky lawyers and L.A. court systems that can't seem to convict anyone.... maybe then, we'll find out the truth about child molestation charges leveled at Michael Jackson from children (that's plural, not singular).
"My comment? I recognize and respect his talent, but the rest is very tainted. And I want to hear the truth, once and for all."
Amazing isn't it, what crawls out of the primordial soup?
I didn’t find anything particularly nasty about these remarks except that traditionally one is supposed to focus on the good things about the deceased. These questions are still mysteries. Did he molest or not? I don’t know the answer.
If you ever get a chance to watch his show (if it is still on). He is quite a character and a pretty good dad.
The first rock concert I ever went to was KISS in downtown Pittsburgh at some theater in around 1974 or so. It was Kiss, Rush and The Heavy Metal Kids. :)
My ears have never been the same.
His father is a digusting piece of work. I hope the excuse for this interview tonight with BET is that the old man is senile..but I suspect it is how he has always been.
http://perezhilton.com/2009-06-28-michael-jacksons-father-hits-the-red-carpet#respond
What did YOU do when all that stuff was going on? Don't kid us or yourself, you knew what was going on but you did nothing too...........You are just as to blame as Gene Simmons.
Sexual perversion WAS huge in the downfall of Michael Jackson.
He was a healthy handsome young man but suspect somewhere in the late 80’s to early 90’s he dabbled in pedophilia and homosexuality. He looked so much more effeminate after that and his physical appearance, health and finances went south.
He was too young to just drop out of the music world for 12 years unproductive like he did. Sexual perversion helped destroy him!
What did anyone do?
I respect Gene a lot more than Michael Jackson. ANY man that throws parties where he sleeps with little boys is not natural.
You don't vote for kings!
(yes, that's from Monty Python...)
Not at all like I would have expected.
Did MJ have AIDS ? His physical decline was extreme.
Sorry,couldn’t do anything because I never knew MJ at all so I never knew anything.
Haha, nice!
Regardless of how I feel about celebrities, good or bad (mostly bad), it’s always nice to see one get knocked down a notch...
I think even AIDS was scared of Michael Jackson.
Uh, his albums sales did.
The media tells us who to idolize.
They do?
But his output was relatively limited and MTV kept playing the same Jackson videos over and over in the 80's until I wanted to scream. SOS same old same old.
I don't know if you know this, but MTV at the time consisted entirely of playing Madonna and hair-metal bands. Jackson became so popular that MTV basically had no choice.
He was a physically handsome young man until he started to change his skin color.
Ever hear of Vitiligo? It's a rare skin disease that changes the skin's pigmentation. Jackson had it.
Sorry, but I’ll never click on a Perez Hilton link. No point in driving up his numbers.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.