Gene Simmons, the frontman of KISS, is tired of hearing celebrities’ opinions on politics.
The rocker was recently asked by TMZ for his thoughts on stars who are outspoken about their criticism of Donald Trump, such as Ben Stiller, who recently called out the president after the White House used a clip of his 2008 movie Tropic Thunder in an Iran war propaganda video.
“Everybody in the world should listen to what actors and comedians say, because they’re so qualified,” Simmons responded sarcastically before adding in a more serious tone, “Basically, shut the fuck up. Do your art and shut up. Nobody’s interested in their opinions. That includes me, who I vote for, who I like,” Simmons said. “Who the fuck do you think you are?”
The musician continued, “People in America work hard for their living, and they don’t want to be lectured to by people who live in mansions and drive Rolls-Royces. It’s time for everybody in the entertainment industry to shut their piehole and just do your art. Nobody cares what you think. I don’t.”
Simmons specifically mentioned actor Mark Ruffalo, who has been quite vocal about politics and his disdain for Trump.
“What would Mark [Ruffalo] think about politics?” he said before replying, “I don’t care.”
Siller and Ruffalo aren’t the only celebrities who have been outspoken about their political stance. Just this year, during the 2026 awards season, numerous stars have called out Trump and his divisive policies during their acceptance speeches alone.
At the 2026 Grammys, Billie Eilish slammed ICE while accepting her award with her brother Finneas O’Connell. In the days that followed, Sen. Ted Cruz and Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary were among those who also criticized her for getting political. But who came to Eilish’s defense? Ruffalo, telling O’Leary to “STFU.”
While the KISS member seems to now be taking a more silent approach to his political views, he’s previously shared mixed opinions about Trump. He previously told Bill Maher on his Club Random podcast in 2022 that he “was happy” when The Celebrity Apprentice first got elected in 2016.
However, he was later critical of how polarized politics has become because of Trump. “The person that I saw first coming into power is not the person I saw within a year or two of that,” Simmons told Maher at the time.
More recently, he expressed his gratitude to the president after KISS was recognized at the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors, saying that the rock band is “deeply honored.”
