Gene Simmons settles sexual harassment lawsuit

Content Warning:  This story contains descriptions of sexual harassment 

Gene Simmons, the fire-breathing, blood-spitting KISS co-frontman and right-leaning raconteur, has settled a lawsuit filed by an unnamed female journalist who claimed he groped her during a face-to-face interview.

The Blast is reporting that during a July 2 hearing in the case, the woman’s legal reps announced a settlement had been reached out of court. The terms have not been announced, though the judge said both sides must now file a request to officially dismiss the case.

The woman, described as a long-time “on-air personality for a local rock station” and who was named in the suit as “Jane Doe,” sued the rocker last December claiming he made “unwanted, unwarranted sexual advances” to her at the opening of his San Bernardino eatery, Rock & Brews.

KISS

The incident took place last November in the California venue’s green room, where the plaintiff claims Simmons grabbed her hand, flicked her throat and, at one stage when the interview had wrapped up, touched her bottom while a group photo was taken.

The suit reads, “Defendant Simmons turned standard interview questions into sexual innuendos, which made plaintiff Doe extremely uncomfortable.”

The veteran bass player has denied the allegations. “Friends, I intend to defend myself against any alleged charges you may have been reading about in the media,” said Simmons in a statement shared with ET Canada in December 2017.

“For the record, I did not assault the person making these accusations in the manner alleged in the complaint or harm her in any way,” he added.

The alleged assault occurred just a month after Fox News banned Simmons “for life” from its NYC headquarters after he allegedly insulted and taunted staff members.

Simmons’ settlement means there won’t be any legals hanging over him when he boards a flight next month for his first solo tour of Australia. TEG Live is producing the four-date tour, which is scheduled to visit Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane with KISS guitarist (and long- time Simmons foe) Ace Frehley in support. Only time will tell what sort of a reception Simmons will receive.

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.