KISS frontman Gene Simmons recently made controversial remarks about Generation Z, criticizing what he perceives as their sense of entitlement in comments shared on The HoneyDew Podcast.
The rock legend’s statements focused on work ethic and generational attitudes toward earning money and benefits.
“Neither [my son] Nick nor [my daughter] Sophie ever got — what is it called? — allowances, where you give your kids money for nothing,” Simmons said. “No. You want money? You’ve gotta do something. Do this. I don’t know — mow the lawn, clean this, do that. Then you understand the value of it. And then you don’t have to say ‘thank you’. You don’t owe anybody money.”
Simmons continued his critique by targeting what he called the “entitled generation.”
“The love of labor… If you can get that into the thick skulls of — what’s the new generation? Generation X? What is it? … Generation fucked up,” he said. “The entitled generation. ‘Cause if you go through your whole life getting your palm greased, which used to mean you get money for nothing, when you turn 18 or 20, whenever it is that you’re on your own, you get entitled: ‘Hey, I deserve healthcare.’ No, actually, you don’t. ‘I deserve free living.’”