Gene Simmons, the legendary musician who’s also known by the stage name “the Demon,” and the frontman/bassist/co-lead singer of the hard rock band KISS, recently stunned anchor Maritsa Georgiou during a TV interview by abruptly asking if she was “still modeling.”

Simmons, age 76, then went on to say he “just assumed” she modeled.

The Scripps News anchor who was then uneasy with the exchange, asked, “What?” and clarifying, “I don’t model, sir.” Simmons then said, “Oh, I just assumed.”

The exchange became uncomfortable and led to Georgiou, who was visibly confused, quickly putting a cap on the 11-minute segment, much to the surprise of viewers and the anchor herself.

The incident, which went viral because of Simmon’s reputation, unfolded while Simmons was in D.C. for the Kennedy Center Honors.

What’s more, a comment posted on Instagram stated: “The exchange instantly went viral — with viewers calling the moment cringe, awkward, and classic Gene Simmons behavior. Known for decades as a notorious ladies man, Simmons once claimed to have slept with 4,800 women during his KISS career.”

And according to a story on cleveland.com about Simmon’s Senate testimony supporting the American Music Fairness Act, this in fact wasn’t the first time Simmons was called out for uncalled for remarks related to women.

In addition, aol.com reported that the KISS frontman’s behavior was a random pass on live television calling it a “surprise final question.”

MORE ON SIMMON’S REPUTATION

Earlier in 2024, while he was a guest judge on “Dancing with the Stars,” Simmons faced controversy for commenting more on female contestants’ looks and appearances rather than on their dancing expertise.

And when queried by the Daily Mail about those comments, Simmons stated defiantly, “I stand by every word I said.”

Simmons co-founded KISS with Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss in 1973. Simmons, alongside Stanley, remained a constant member of the band until their dissolution in 2023. Simmons is also known for his long tongue and for his reality television show, “Gene Simmons Family Jewels,” which aired from 2006 to 2012. He was inducted into th eRock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 as a member of Kiss.