Kiss has infuriated fans by calling their inclusion in US President Trump’s Kennedy Center Honours a ‘great honour.’
The 80s band has been named alongside soul singer Gloria Gaynor, country star George Strait, and actors Sylvester Stallone and Michael Crawford.
This is the first Kennedy Center Honours since President Trump took over as chairman of the arts and culture center in Washington DC earlier this year.
The highly controversial move has been pointed to as a sign of encroaching authoritarianism in the US, as Trump’s first action was removing Biden-era appointees from the board and stacking it with loyalists.
Yesterday, in a press conference to announce the honourees, Trump said: ‘We’ll be honouring one of the greatest rock bands of all time, Kiss. So Kiss was formed in 1973 in New York City by founding band members – and incredible people, by the way – Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss
‘Kiss became a global phenomenon. Sold more than 100 million records worldwide and produced 30 gold albums and lots of other things. They produced, they made a fortune. And they’re great people and they deserve it and they work hard and they’re still.
‘And they’re going to do something very special. Kiss is going to be here a little bit before the show. I think they’re gonna do something very special. We’re gonna have a good time.’
In response to the announcement, Gene Simmons told TMZ: ‘Kiss is the embodiment of the American dream. We are deeply honoured to receive the Kennedy Center Honour.’
‘From our earliest days, Kiss has embodied the American ideal that all things are possible and that hard work pays off,’ adds Paul Stanley.
‘The prestige of the Kennedy Center Honours cannot be overstated, and I accept this on behalf of the long legacy of Kiss and all of the band members who helped create our iconic band.’
Many Kiss fans are extremely disappointed by the band’s reaction, accusing them of capitulating to Trump’s growing censorship of American arts.
One Reddit thread saw users embroiled in a heated discussion, with @Mr_pootatohead writing: ‘Is Gene going to lick Trump’s boots now after saying, a couple of years ago, “I knew him before he entered politics. Look what that gentleman did to this country and the polarization — got all the cockroaches to rise to the top. Once upon a time, you were embarrassed to be publicly racist and out there with conspiracy theories. Now it’s all out in the open because he allowed it.” Would they be allowed to wear their drag-inspired costumes?’
One user disagreed, writing: ‘They should decline because you don’t agree politically? I hate Trump personally, but the Kennedy Honours is just a PR event to celebrate American arts & culture.’
In response @twoquarters posted: ‘Indeed that is what it was but the accelerated movement into authoritarianism has seen a contamination of nearly all institutions.Disagreeing politically? No. I don’t even know we are in an era where politics even works. It’s far beyond that now.’
X users are also displeased, with @LeeJohnson65 writing: ‘Nope. I’ve been a KISS fan since the beginning but if they support this regime, I’m out.’
@OxfordBuckeye agreed: ‘Always thought Kiss were overrated garbage. This proves it.’
Indeed, Trump made no mention of how critical members of the band have been of him in the past.
In January 2021, as Trump sought to call the results of the 2020 election into question, Stanley described his actions as ‘abhorrent,’ ‘mob boss behavior,’ and ‘a true danger to our democracy.’
Four months earlier, Stanley also wrote on Twitter: ‘REGARDLESS of who you support, it is incendiary & abhorrent for ANY candidate to say ‘If I lose, the election is rigged. It’s an insult to those who have fought for the free, safe elections we have and dangerously implies that citizens who don’t share your views are the enemy.’
Simmons also countered Trump’s election fraud lies in 2020, posting that ’60 courts in various states and 60 Judges (including Pres Trump appointed Judges) UNANIMOUSLY, and without exception, dismissed ALL allegations of a rigged election..and that Includes Trump appointed US Attorney General Bill Barr!!!’
Back in March, Trump outlined his intention to not only host the ceremony himself, but also to choose honourees who aligned with his political views.
He said: ‘We’ll go slightly more conservative, if you don’t mind, with some of the people/ There are people out there that would not be considered that are much bigger stars than the ones that were being honoured…In the past, I mean, these are radical left lunatics that have been chosen. I didn’t like it. I couldn’t watch it. And the host was always terrible.’
It seems that, according to fans, the members of Kiss are willing to put aside their beliefs for another moment in the spotlight.
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