Gene Simmons has delivered a scathing message to celebrities who use their fame to comment on politics, telling them to ‘shut the f**k up’ and focus on the work that made them well-known.
The KISS co-founder made it clear he has little time for famous faces offering opinions on conflicts, political leaders, or how the public should vote.
The remarks come after Ben Stiller criticized the White House for using footage from his 2008 film Tropic Thunder.
Stiller spoke out when a clip from the movie appeared in a social media post connected to US military activity related to the Iran conflict, saying he wanted no association with it.
“Hey White House, please remove the Tropic Thunder clip,” Stiller wrote. “We never gave you permission and have no interest in being a part of your propaganda machine. War is not a movie.”
Although Stiller’s point about not turning war into entertainment struck a chord, it also triggered a sharp response from Simmons.
In comments to TMZ, Simmons blasted entertainers who share political views publicly, arguing most people don’t want to hear them.
“Basically, shut the f**k up,” Simmons said. “Do your art and shut up. Nobody’s interested in your opinions, that includes me. Who I vote for. Who I like.”
Before adding: “Who the f**k do you think you are? People in America work hard for a living and they don’t want to be lectured to by people who live in mansions and drive Rolls-Royces. It’s time for everybody in the entertainment industry to shut their pie-hole.”
Stiller wasn’t the only celebrity to weigh in following the Trump administration’s actions in the Middle East. Mark Ruffalo has also been among the most vocal critics in recent days.
The Avengers star has posted repeatedly about rising tensions involving Iran, including urging people to contact elected officials and push back against any further escalation.
In one post, Ruffalo urged followers to call their ‘Senators and Congress members to say: No war with Iran! Two critical votes are happening in both chambers to stop Trump’s illegal, devastating war’.
Even as Simmons argues celebrities should avoid political commentary, he has spoken about politics himself in the past.
In 2016, the musician predicted a Trump win and offered praise in interviews, though he later said his perspective changed over time.