Gene Simmons: Immigrants Need To ‘Learn To Speak Goddamn English’

Gene Simmons immigrated to the United States with his mother when he was eight years old, but today the KISS frontman has some tough words for those who travel to America’s shores in search of a new home.

In an interview on Monday to promote KISS’s new tour, Simmons talked about modern immigrants and lamented their reluctance to learn to speak English.

“I’m actually saying the thing that needs to be said because the politically-correct climate is bulls*it,” Simmons told HuffPost Live host Ricky Camilleri. “You don’t want to upset anybody by saying, ‘Learn to speak goddamn English.’ So, as an immigrant, I’m telling you: learn to speak goddamn English. It is the key that will unlock the keys to the kingdom.”

The host offered Gene Simmons a chance to better explain the controversial statement, but instead Simmons doubled down on his advice for immigrants.

“How about this: if Siri can’t understand you, you’re in trouble,” Simmons said.

This is not the first time that Gene Simmons has stirred up controversy with some blunt statements. In another recent interview, he have advice for the the estimated 121 million people worldwide suffering from depression.

“F*** you, then kill yourself,” said the 64-year-old rock star. “I’m the guy who says ‘Jump!’ when there’s a guy on top of a building who says, ‘That’s it, I can’t take it anymore, I’m going to jump.’ Are you kidding? Why are you announcing it? Shut the f*** up, have some dignity and jump! You’ve got the crowd.”

Gene Simmons also drew criticism when he offered a defense for now-former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, who was caught on tape in a racist rant.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Simmons said while he disagreed with Sterling, he thought the NBA owner got a raw deal:

“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 [says] 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.”

The full statement Gene Simmons made on immigrants and their reluctance to learn English can be found here.