The members of rock band Kiss are nonetheless "deeply honored" by their Kennedy Heart distinction regardless of a few of them vocally slamming President Donald Trump, the middle's chairman, prior to now.

On Wednesday, Trump revealed the star-studded lineup of honorees being acknowledged for his or her inventive and cultural affect, which along with Kiss, additionally consists of nation music titan George Strait, English actor and comic Michael Crawford, Rocky star Sylvester Stallone, and singer Gloria Gaynor.

After the announcement, the rockers informed TMZ what the respect meant to them. "From our earliest days, Kiss has embodied the American very best that each one issues are doable and that onerous work pays off," Paul Stanley informed the outlet. "The status of the Kennedy Heart Honors can’t be overstated and I settle for this on behalf of the lengthy legacy of Kiss and the entire band members who helped create our iconic band."

The opposite members of the legendary band — Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss — shared comparable sentiments with the outlet. Simmons mentioned, "Kiss is the embodiment of the American dream. We’re deeply honored to obtain the Kennedy Heart Honor."

Frehley, in the meantime, mentioned he was grateful to be honored alongside the likes of Stallone, Strait, Gaynor, and Crawford, calling it "a dream come true that I by no means thought would materialize."

Criss mentioned merely, "I really feel so blessed. That is the best honor of our profession."

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TMZ notes that Frehley referred to himself as a "Trump supporter in 2020." The opposite members of Kiss, nonetheless, have been extra important of Trump.

In Aug. 2020, Stanley referred to as Trump's claims in regards to the 2020 election being rigged if he misplaced "abhorrent." Stanley posted on X on the time: "REGARDLESS of who you help, it’s incendiary & abhorrent for ANY candidate to say ‘If I lose, the election is rigged.' It’s an insult to those that have fought for the free, secure elections we’ve and dangerously implies that residents who don’t share your views are the enemy."

He additionally slammed Trump over the Jan. 6 Capitol Riots in 2021. Calling those that partook within the riots "terrorists" who participated in "armed revolt," Stanley added on X, "The flames had been fanned in the present day & over time by the president & particular senators who CANNOT be allowed now to distance from or denounce what they’ve instantly precipitated. Know their names. THIS is the results of their deception. Disgrace."

In a 2016 interview with Rolling Stone, Simmons mentioned Trump was "good for the political system" however he nonetheless "has mentioned some very vile, unkind issues."

Simmons, who was a contestant on Trump's NBC present The Movie star Apprentice in 2008, admitted on Bill Maher's Club Random podcast in Nov. 2022 that he initially was "completely happy" that the person he knew was elected in 2016, however he shortly modified his tune.

"The individual that I noticed first coming into energy is just not the particular person I noticed inside a 12 months or two of that … However I modified the way in which numerous individuals modified," Simmons mentioned.

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"Look what that gentleman did to this nation and the polarization — bought all of the cockroaches to rise to the highest," Simmons mentioned. "As soon as upon a time, you had been embarrassed to be publicly racist and on the market with conspiracy theories. Now it's all out within the open as a result of he allowed it."

He continued, "I don't assume he's a Republican or a Democrat. He's out for himself, any manner you may get there. And within the final election, over 70 million individuals purchased it hook, line and sinker."

Awarded on the John F. Kennedy Heart for the Performing Arts in Washington, the Kennedy Heart Honors acknowledge the lifetime achievements of artists who’ve made profound contributions to the cultural life in America. Previous honorees embrace Steven Spielberg, Meryl Streep, Oprah Winfrey, Billy Crystal, Quincy Jones, Rita Moreno, Herbie Hancock, Dick Van Dyke, Tina Turner, Dolly Parton, Renée Fleming, and Francis Ford Coppola.

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