Gene Simmons settles sexual misconduct lawsuit

(Image credit: Tara Ziemba - Getty)

Kiss star Gene Simmons has settled a sexual misconduct lawsuit which was brought against him late last year.

A female broadcaster, who was listed under the pseudonym Jane Doe, filed the suit in December, accusing the vocalist and bassist of “unwarranted, unwanted sexual advances, touching and battery” during an interview.

Billboard report that Simmons and Doe announced to LA County Supreme Court Judge Daniel S Murphy last week that their case had been settled. Both parties will now need to submit an official request to end the lawsuit, with the hearing scheduled to take place on August 10. 

The terms of the settlement haven’t been made public.

The alleged incident was said to have taken place in November last year at San Bernardino restaurant Rock & Brews, with court papers claiming that Simmons made “several aggressive, unwanted sexual advances, despite Doe’s active and clear discouragement.”

The papers claimed that Simmons “reached over and grabbed Doe’s hand and forcefully placed it on his knee and held it on his knee.” Doe withdrew her hand but later in the interview, it was alleged that Simmons again reached for her, but Doe “was able to push his hand away with her elbow before he touched her hand.”

Simmons was also accused of turning interview questions into sexual innuendoes and again reached for Doe’s hand and then “forcibly flicked/struck Doe in the middle of her throat” causing Doe to attempt to shut the interview down.

Simmons vigorously denied the allegations back in December, saying in a statement: “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.

“I am conferring with my lawyers with the aim of vigorously countering these allegations. And I look forward to my day in court where the evidence will prove my innocence.”

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott keeps Louder’s buyer’s guides up to date, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 10 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald newspapers, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.