” I look forward to my day in court where the evidence will prove my innocence,” KISS bassist Gene Simmons says about sexual assault lawsuit
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UPDATE: KISS bassist Gene Simmons defends himself against accusations in a lawsuit that says he groped and made “unwanted, unwarranted sexual advances” on an unnamed radio and television broadcaster.
“Friends, I intend to defend myself against any alleged charges you may have been reading about in the media,” Simmons said in a statement given to US Weekly . “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.”
PREVIOUSLY: Gene Simmons is being sued by a woman who says the KISS bassist groped her and made “unwanted, unwarranted sexual advances” during an interview she conducted last month, according to legal documents obtained by TheWrap.
The radio and television broadcaster (identified as “Jane Doe”) is suing for sexual battery, gender violence, battery and assault.
According to the lawsuit, which was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday, the woman was speaking with Simmons and his bandmate Paul Stanley at their Rock & Brews restaurant at San Manuel Casino in Highland, California on Nov. 1 when the incident occurred.
Also Read: Gene Simmons Doubles Down on Working Mother Comments: ‘I Stand by Every Word I Said’
The plaintiff, identified in the documents as a “long-time on-air personality for a local rock station,” says Simmons grabbed her hand multiple times and “forcefully placed it on his knee and held it on his knee.” The accuser also says he “forcibly flicked/struck” her throat.
“Defendant Simmons turned standard interview questions into sexual innuendos, which made plaintiff Doe extremely uncomfortable,” the suit states.
Simmons provided an “incoherent explanation” for his behavior, according to the lawsuit.
Also Read: Gene Simmons Tweets Female-Empowerment Message, Gets Dragged Over Fox News Ban
The accuser also says Simmons “reached toward [her] buttocks and touched it” while they were posing for a promotional photo together after the interview.
“My client is embarrassed and humiliated by the incident with Mr. Simmons,” the anonymous woman’s attorney, Willie W. Williams, told The San Bernardino Sun during a phone interview. “She filed suit because she wanted to make a strong statement that this behavior is unacceptable and she wants to see an end to this type of behavior.”
Simmons’ reps didn’t immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.
Pamela Chelin contributed to this story.
68 Hollywood and Media Heavyweights Accused of Sexual Misconduct Since Harvey Weinstein
In the wake of the Harvey Weinstein sexual misconduct scandal, women and men alike have been more vocal about speaking out against unwanted sexual advances and contact. The accusations have been many, and the reaction and fallout has been swift across the industry. Getty Images
Brett Ratner
Six women have accused the director and producer of sexual misconduct, including Olivia Munn and Natasha Henstridge. Ratner’s lawyer says no woman has ever requested or received any financial settlement from Ratner.
Fallout: Ratner chose to personally step away from all Warner Bros. related activities, and Playboy put Ratner’s biopic about Hugh Hefner on hold. Ratner has filed a libel lawsuit against one of his accusers, Melanie Kohler. Getty Images
James Toback
Hundreds of women contacted an LA Times reporter to accuse Toback of sexual harassment and assault, including Selma Blair, Rachel McAdams, Julianne Moore and Caterina Scorsone.
Fallout: Just before the LA Times story broke, Toback told Rolling Stone that anyone who has accused him, “is a lying c—sucker or c— or both.” Toback and Harvey Weinstein are both under investigation by the Beverly Hills police department. Getty Images
Mark Halperin
Halperin sexually harassed five women while political director at ABC News over a decade ago. A sixth woman, journalist Emily Miller, said she was “attacked” by him.
Fallout: NBC News terminated Halperin’s contract as a special contributor, Showtime, which airs Halperin’s show “The Circus,” cut ties with the journalist, and CAA dropped him from their client list. Halperin issued a lengthy public apology. Getty Images
Kevin Spacey
Actor Anthony Rapp told Buzzfeed that Spacey made a sexual advance on him three decades ago when Rapp was 14. More than a dozen other individuals subsequently came forward with claims of sexual harassment or assault, including an anonymous former actor who said Spacey tried to rape him when he was 14.
Fallout: Spacey apologized to Rapp and also came out as gay, which was widely criticized. Netflix since announced that “House of Cards” would end and halted production on the sixth and final season. The Old Vic theater in London, where Spacey was artistic director, also opened a confidential tip line. Getty Images
Louis C. K.
Five women accused C. K. of masturbating in front of them or requesting to in a New York Times report. The comedian later admitted the allegations were true in a statement, stopping short of apologizing for the behavior.
Fallout: HBO, Netflix, FX and TBS all cut ties with the comedian, dropping his projects from their networks. The premiere of his film “I Love You, Daddy” was canceled, and he was cut from “The Secret Life of Pets 2.” His publicist, manager and touring agent all dropped him as a client. Getty Images
Dustin Hoffman
Anna Graham Hunter, who worked with Hoffman as a production assistant, said Hoffman attempted to grope her four times and made a lewd comment while on set.
Fallout: Hoffman issued an apology, saying it was “not reflective of who I am.” Later that same day, a second woman accused him of sexual harassment. Getty Images
Michael Oreskes
Two women told The Washington Post Oreskes made unwanted sexual contact towards them while he was Washington bureau chief of The New York Times.
Fallout: Oreskes was forced to resign as Senior Vice President of News and Editorial Director at NPR. Getty Images
Jeremy Piven
Actress Ariane Bellamar, a former Playboy Playmate, tweeted that Piven groped her on the set of “Entourage” and at the Playboy Mansion, twice cornering and fondling her. Actress Cassidy Freeman later accused Piven of “predatory behavior.”
Fallout: CBS is looking into the situation, and Piven has “unequivocally” denied the allegations and offered to take a polygraph test to prove his innocence. Getty Images
Ed Westwick
The “Gossip Girl” star has been accused of sexual assault by two women, including actress Kristina Cohen, who said Westwick forced himself on her while she was napping at his house. Westwick denied the allegations, calling them “provably untrue.”
Fallout: Westwick said he was “cooperating with the authorities” on an investigation to clear his name. The BBC announced that it pulled his drama series “Ordeal by Innocence” from its schedule, and the production company behind the series “White Gold” said he had “paused” filming in light of the allegations. Getty Images
Andy Dick
Sources close to the production “Raising Buchanan” told The Hollywood Reporter Dick’s misconduct on set included kissing, licking, groping and making lewd propositions toward at least four members of the production.
Fallout: Dick was fired from the production of “Raising Buchanan” and from the film ” Vampire Dad .” Dick denied the groping claims but said it was “possible” he licked people. Getty Images
Roy Price
Amazon Studios head Price allegedly told “The Man in the High Castle” producer Isa Hackett, “You’ll love my dick,” during a cab ride.
Fallout: Amazon placed Price on a leave of absence. Getty Images
Chris Savino
Several female employees at Nickelodeon accused “The Loud House” showrunner of sexual assault, with 12 other women accusing him of sexual misconduct and threats of being blacklisted.
Fallout: Nickelodeon fired Savino, but will continue to air and produce the show. Savino has since apologized. Getty Images
Andrew Kramer
Lionsgate international COO Kramer was investigated for an accusation of inappropriate behavior toward a female assistant.
Fallout: Kramer left Lionsgate, but the company’s internal investigation was ruled “inconclusive.”
Ken Baker
Three women anonymously spoke with TheWrap claiming Baker, an E! News correspondent, sent inappropriate text messages and in one instance groped a woman at a party.
Fallout: E! is investigating the accusations and Baker will not appear on air during the investigation. Baker said in a statement to TheWrap that the “anonymous allegations are simply not true, and, frankly, are heartbreaking to hear.”
Ben Affleck
Affleck grabbed actress Hilarie Burton’s left breast while on air during an appearance together on MTV’s “Total Request Live.”
Fallout: Affleck wrote on Twitter, “I acted inappropriately toward Ms. Burton and I sincerely apologize.” Getty Images
Andy Signore
Several women alleged sexual misconduct against Signore, the creator of the YouTube series “Honest Trailers.” Signore was accused of sexual assault, sending inappropriate messages and making lewd comments to employees.
Fallout: His employers at Defy Media and Screen Junkies fired Signore following an investigation. Getty Images
Bill O’Reilly
After being fired from Fox News earlier in April, it was reported in October by the New York Times that O’Reilly paid $32 million to settle sexual harassment claims from a coworker.
Fallout: O’Reilly told Matt Lauer he’d done “ absolutely nothing wrong ” and that this was “a political and financial hit job.” Fox
Tyler Grasham
Actor Blaise Godbe Lipman said APA agent Grasham fed him alcohol and sexually assaulted him when the actor was in his late teens. Actor Tyler Cornell filed a police report claiming the agent sodomized him. And teen Brady Lindsey described predatory behavior by Grasham.
Fallout: Actors Finn Wolfhard and Cameron Boyce left the agency, and Grasham was fired .
Rick Najera
Najera, director of the CBS Diversity Sketch Comedy Showcase, made inappropriate and lewd comments to coworkers in multiple instances. Actress Rachel Bloom sent an email to participants warning of his behavior.
Fallout: Najera resigned from his role and issued a statement saying he was “heartbroken and confounded by deliberate and cruel defamations.” Getty Images
David Corn
Mother Jones’ Washington Bureau Chief was investigated for the second time in three years for claims of inappropriate physical conduct and “rape jokes” in light of two emails from former staffers in 2014 and 2015, according to Politico .
Fallout: Mother Jones’ CEO said that in the initial investigation, they determined there was “no misconduct.” Corn denied the allegations but said it was possible his past actions had been misinterpreted.
Kirt Webster
Former country singer Austin Rick accused Webster, a veteran Nashville publicist, of repeatedly sexually assaulting, drugging and violating him in 2008 when Rick was 18.
Fallout: Webster will step down from his company Webster Public Relations and the company’s name will be changed. Getty Images
David Guillod
Actress Jessica Barth told TheWrap she was drugged and sexually assaulted by Guillod, the co-CEO of talent and literary management company Primary Wave Entertainment, back in 2012. Three additional women later accused Guillod of rape.
Fallout: Guillod announced he would take an immediate leave of absence from the company. Barth also approached the LAPD to revive her attempt to bring criminal charges.
Hamilton Fish
Several female employees at The New Republic, where Fish is president and publisher, came forward about workplace interactions that have made “an uncomfortable environment,” according to the New York Times .
Fallout: The magazine’s owner Win McCormack asked Fish to remain on a leave of absence, pending an investigation. Getty Images
Adam Venit
Actor Terry Crews disclosed on Twitter that a Hollywood executive “groped his privates,” and he named Venit and described in detail to Good Morning America his accusation.
Fallout: Crews departed WME and has filed a lawsuit against Venit. The agency stripped him of his position as head of the motion picture group but has kept him as an agent. Getty Images
Leon Wieseltier
The legendary former New Republic editor responded to multiple allegations of sexual harassment with a statement saying, “For my offenses against some of my colleagues in the past I offer a shaken apology and ask for their forgiveness.”
Fallout: The financial backer of a culture magazine Wieseltier had planned to launch announced that the magazine was suspended.
Jann Wenner
Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner was accused of offering to trade sex for work by freelance journalist Ben Ryan. Wenner acknowledged the incident but denied any instance of quid pro quo.
Matt Zimmerman
NBC Universal Senior Vice President for Booking, News & Entertainment Matt Zimmerman “engaged in inappropriate conduct with more than one woman at NBCU,” a company spokesperson told TheWrap .
Fallout: Zimmerman has been fired for sexual misconduct from NBCU. NBC Universal
Andrew Kreisberg
Kreisberg, the co-creator and executive producer of “Arrow,” “The Flash” and “Supergirl,” is accused of sexual harassment and inappropriate physical contact with 15 women and four men over a number of years, many of whom worked on shows Kreisberg produced, according to Variety.
Fallout: Warner Bros. Television fired Kreisberg. “Supergirl” star Melissa Benoist along with other co-stars called for change in Hollywood following the allegations. Getty Images
Matthew Weiner
“Mad Men” writer Kater Gordon told The Information that Weiner once said to her “that [she] owed it to him to let him see [her] naked” while they were working alone together late at night.
Fallout: Weiner denied the accusation through a spokesperson, saying, “He does not remember saying this comment nor does it reflect a comment he would say to any colleague.” Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Jeffrey Tambor
Van Barnes, a transgender actress and former assistant to Tambor, posted a private accusation to her social media but had no additional comment for the media.
