Gene Simmons Denies Being a Racist After Backlash for Viral “I’m Not Ghetto” Rant Against Rappers in the Rock Hall of Fame

Gene Simmons may be standing firm on his beliefs about who should qualify for entry into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, but he’s hoping to clarify that opinion is not race-based.

As reported here, Simmons ignited a firestorm of controversy for asserting only Rock artists should be inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame.

And though he elaborated by mentioning performers in Opera, Pop, and other non-Rock genres should also be excluded, his comments homing in on Hip-Hop artists are what really got him in hot water.

“It’s not my music. I don’t come from the ghetto. It doesn’t speak my language. I said in print many times: Hip-hop does not belong in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, nor does opera, symphony orchestras … it’s called the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,” Simmons shared during a recent guest stint on ‘LegendsNLeaders.’

After igniting backlash and staunch criticism from artists and social media commenters alike, Gene took to ‘People‘ magazine to somewhat clear the air.

“The word ‘ghetto’; it originated with Jews. It was borrowed by African Americans in particular and respectfully, not in a bad way,” said Simmons – a Jewish-American – before sharing, “‘Ghetto’ is a Jewish term … How could [my statement have been racist], when rock is Black music? It’s just a different Black music than hip-hop, which is also Black music.”

To further underscore his stance, Gene trumpeted African Americans’ contribution to the genre.

“Rock ‘n’ roll owes everything to Black music, statement of fact, period. All the major forms of American music owe their roots to Black music,” he said – suggesting his issue was not with Black Rock artists but more so performers of non-Rock genres.

All-in-all, the KISS rocker may have attempted to backtrack on part of his incendiary commentary but he was clear that his original point still stands.

“You can agree to disagree and still respect and admire each other,” he relayed to the magazine. “You don’t have to agree with my opinion, but I stand by my words. That’s what I believe. One, I admire and respect Hip-Hop. Two, it is not rock ‘n’ roll. And three, when are Led Zeppelin and AC/DC going to be inducted into the Hip Hop Hall of Fame?”

At writing, reps from the Rock Hall of Fame have not weighed in on Simmons’ set of statements.

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