Gene Simmons: Adam Lambert 'killed his career' by coming out
In a recent interview with AOL Television, rocker Gene Simmons of KISS said that "American Idol" finalist Adam Lambert "killed his career" by coming out of the closet.
Simmons maintains that now the conversation is about Lambert's sexuality and not his talent. He says, "He's done. You're forcing people to deal with issues they may not be interested in. Life is unfair, and the masses don't all live in L.A. They live in Wisconsin and Nebraska, and you're on crack if you think the same rules apply there."
First of all, I think Simmons is trying to capitalize on his "Idol" experience to promote the new season of his reality show. Nobody asked him.
Secondly, I take offense at his characterization of L.A. versus middle America. There are homophobic people everywhere, just like there are non-homophobic people everywhere. The fact that someone lives in Los Angeles does not make him or her inherently better or cooler or more open-minded than someone who lives in Nebraska or Wisconsin.
Finally, as Adam Lambert says, he was never really "in the closet." He may have played it coy, but was there much doubt for anyone over the age of 12 that Adam is gay? The people who loved Adam Lambert voted for him all season and they aren't going to abandon him now because he's out of the closet. The people who care about his sexuality weren't voting for him all season and would never have bought his music anyway.
Talk about much ado about nothing. Kiss off, Gene Simmons.
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I LOVE this article! Thanks for all your spot-on editorial comments. For a change, I can leave a positive post instead of feeling like I have to defend Adam for being himself! You're right, we all KNEW he was gay, voted him to second place and will buy anything he records with his new 19/RCA contract. Adam is awesome, and the article's author, Andrea, is awesome, too!
ha! you got that right, Andrea
Gene Simmons, what a moron. But I continue to ask: Why did Adam feel compelled to announce which sex he is attracted to? Does it make him any less of a person, either way? Is it one ounce of our business? Please tell me, what is the obsession with knowing celebrities' sexual orientations? How does it affect our lives one iota? And further, what gives anyone the RIGHT to think they can even ASK a person such an intimate, closed-door question?
OLD NEWS... This was from weeks ago.
NOT that I care to defend Simmons, but he did go on to say that he hopes he's wrong and that Adam becomes the new Beatles.
He's wrong...and Adam will. 'Nuf said.
who cares about Adam or Gene,
is all about Michael Jackson,
was he Gay or Not???
and L.A. should pay for the tribute statue,
to be built at staples center!!!
The Adam Lambert propping continues. Ms. Reiher must be a cougar.
Gene Simmons couldn't be more wrong. I'm a 60 yo grandmother living in Wisconsin and Adam's sexuality isn't any concern of mine. It's his voice, character and personality that I love.
As both an Angelino and a Husker, I can tell you Gene is sadly correct in his observations. I wish my fellow Nebraskans were more open minded, but outside of the "metro" areas of Lincoln/Omaha it is extremely conservative. His orientation won't kill his career, but his current emo-style packaging paired with it, doesn't help. Idol's bread and butter is their touring through the midwest, state fairs. The tween kids are probably cool with everything, but it doesn't mean their bankrolling parents are.
Yep I love this article! Usually I don't buy music albums or CDs. I just watch the videos on youtube, but as soon as Adam Lambert's first CD comes out I am SO buying it!!!