KISS’ Gene Simmons Sides With Donald Sterling

Simmons talked to The Wall Street Journal’s Speakeasy blog about “4th and Loud,” the AMC reality show that takes you behind-the-scenes of  L.A. KISS.  The Southern California arena football team is co-owned by Simmons and KISS partner Paul Stanley.

But it’s Simmons’ remarks about the Washington Redskins name controversy as well as the whole Donald Sterling hullabaloo that’s getting attention.

In case you’ve been in cryonic hibernation for the past six months, Sterling, owner of NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers, just might lose his team due to remarks he made during a phone conversation with alleged girlfriend V. Stiviano.  First reported by TMZ, the phone conversation secretly recorded by Stiviano documents Sterling telling her not to bring her African American friends to the games.  Or, for that matter, post photos of them on Instagram.

Simmons had a few things to say on that matter.  But first, his remarks about the Washington Redskins:

“As a Jew, I wouldn’t be thrilled as ‘The Kikes.’ And if you’re black, you wouldn’t be thrilled with a football team called ‘The Blacks.’  I could use a worse word.  Because ‘Redskins’ was what the white man called them. So I understand if you’re a sports fan and if you’re white, you go ‘Hey, what’s the problem?  We have a long history.’  But if you’re an Indian, think about it.  White dudes don’t have to worry about that stuff because [they] were always the majority in imperialist countries of the world.  ‘Cracker’ means nothing to white people.  They had all the money and the power.”

But sticking up for native Americans offended by the name “Redskins” doesn’t necessarily mean Simmons is on the politically correct side regarding Sterling’s formerly private faux pas.  Or, for that matter, Mel Gibson’s famed alcohol-inspired rants.

“I’m on Mel Gibson’s side, Don Sterling’s side and anybody who has a racist or an expletive rant privately.  The difference between this guy, who’s heinous of course, or anybody else is that they were caught.  Everybody [has] jokes that are off-color, or when they’re drunk.  The difference between Sterling and everyone else is that he was caught on camera, by the way, without his approval.  He was ambushed.  I think he should have done penance and paid a fine.  Here’s what’s going to happen.  They’re going to go after Sterling and he’s going to put a few million dollars out there, because he can afford it – and he’s going to ask the paparazzi out there to find videos of all the other team members talking trash and racist rants.  And then it’s open season.  And if, because you say an off color joke or make a racist rant privately, that causes you to lose a job – nobody would have a job!  Jews do it, Christians do it – everybody does it!  It’s called America.  Free speech.  Even if free speech insults other people.  Privately.  Publically, that’s different.  I’m on the side of free speech in the privacy of your own home or privacy of the situation.  Big brother has finally crawled in bed with us.”

Read the entire interview via this link.