GENE SIMMONS On #MeToo Movement: 'Anybody Can Say Anything And There's No Presumption Of Innocence'

Gene Simmons has voiced his concern about the "heinous collateral damage" caused by the ongoing #MeToo movement, saying that "anybody can say anything and there's no presumption of innocence."

The #MeToo and Time's Up movements were launched following the sexual misconduct scandal surrounding Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. The scandal inspired many women to come forward to accuse not only Weinstein but others in the entertainment industry and beyond.

"I think it's wonderful for women to be engaged in the conversation and the positive side is there have been a lot of bad guys who have gotten away with it [and aren't anymore] — that's a good thing," Simmons told the Toronto Sun.

"The collateral damage is heinous because anybody can say anything and there's no presumption of innocence," he added. That's the problem. The problem is you don't have your day in court.

"As soon as somebody cries and the mascara runs, the guy's life is ruined and it's over. He may be guilty or he may be innocent but what happened to our justice system? You'll make more money. You'll embarrass him every day. Instead of in a news conference which gets you no money. I'm totally in support of anything and everything that follows the rule of law. Get a lawyer. Do it legitimately."

Gene, who is renowned for his sexual appetite and decades of consensual conquests, was himself accused on social media of behaving inappropriately around at least two women. But he shot down the allegations during an interview with BBC "Hardtalk", saying: "All of a sudden, 44 years on in a rock band, somebody's coming up and saying, 'This guy is a bad guy.' It's not true. I think the climate is horrifically bad and yet at the same time empowering to the right women. There are some really bad guys out there; I just happen not to be one of them."

Weinstein's career was brought to a halt after dozens of women in the entertainment industry — including Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie — accused him of varying degrees of sexual misconduct over the years.

A spokeswoman for Weinstein has repeatedly denied allegations "of non-consensual sex." Weinstein has also apologized for "the way I've behaved with colleagues in the past."