Gene Simmons, the legendary bassist of KISS, is facing a wave of online backlash following a photo shared by former bandmate Bruce Kulick that many fans have deemed inappropriate.
Over the weekend, Simmons and Kulick made a joint appearance at Fanboy Expo, a fan convention where they reunited to meet attendees. Kulick later uploaded a series of images to Instagram showing the two musicians catching up and joking around.
“Fanboy Expo has been wonderful for the fans… Gene is having some fun too!” Kulick wrote on Instagram alongside the photo collection.
While most of the images appeared light-hearted and fun, one particular photo raised eyebrows. In this image, Simmons is seen making a suggestive gesture toward Kulick — a move that didn’t sit well with many viewers.
“Gene is getting borderline creepy as he gets older,” one fan commented.
Another added jokingly, “Gene on your ween! Didn’t have THAT on my Bingo card today!” While a third person wrote, “Would you like to file a police report, BK?”
The responses were split, with some expressing discomfort and others viewing the moment as classic Simmons humor.
“Gene grabbing your Love Gun?” a fan joked, making a nod to the band’s 1977 hit, “Love Gun.”
“Gene never misses an occasion to be silly, I love that,” another fan chimed in.
This isn’t the first time Gene Simmons has been criticized for his behavior. In 2023, Simmons made headlines for his questionable comments while guest judging on Dancing with the Stars.
Instead of focusing on the dancers’ technical performance, Simmons sparked outrage with personal remarks about their appearances. He described one dancer as “hot, hot, hot,” remarked that another contestant “fogged up [his] glasses,” and added that he was moved not just by “your gyrations and so on, but your beautiful face.”
Simmons’ habit of crossing the line has become a talking point among fans and critics alike. While his flamboyant personality helped define the KISS brand, some feel his provocations are no longer landing in good fun.
