The group KISS is being sued by their former hairdresser for wrongful termination.
In court documents obtained exclusively by The Blast, David Mathews is suing Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and KISS manager, “Doc” McGhee, for wrongful termination and retaliation.
KISS Rockers Sued By Ex-Hairstylist Alleging Wrongful Termination
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According to court documents obtained by The Blast, David Mathew was hired in 1992 as a hairdresser. His main job is to apply and style the famous KISS stage wigs.
Mathew claims that he continued styling wigs for the group “I Was Made For Lovin’ You” for “the entire duration of his employment.” Apart from styling the wing, Mathew also claims he is responsible for overseeing the wardrobe department and dressing room team.
However, in or around 2012, Mathew claimed that KISS changed his employment status some twenty years after he first started the position. Mathew claimed that they changed his status from an employee to an independent contractor.
Ex-Hairdresser Accused of Kissing Because of ‘Lax Covid Protocols’
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It seems the change in his employment status isn’t the only thing Mathew isn’t happy about. In court papers, the former hairdresser claimed that both Gene Simmons and “Doc” McGhee accused him of being one of the individuals who had been interviewed by Rolling stone for the article, “Can’t Believe How Unsafe It Is’: KISS’ Roadies Blame Lax Covid Protocol for Guitar Tech’s Death.”
Mathew claims that several individuals have complained to McGhee and Paul Stanley about the ills of the guitar’s technology. The band and McGhee were reportedly “very upset” that some crew members spoke anonymously to the publication.
Things seemed to take a turn for the worse ten years after Mathews claimed that his employment status was changed from employee to independent contractor. On April 20, 2022, Mathew claimed that Gene Simmons arrived at the venue for the next show scheduled on the tour in Argentina with flu-like symptoms.
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Although Simmons said he felt fine at the time, Mathews stated that Simmons was coughing, sneezing, and blowing his nose in the dressing room as Mathew put on his wig, styled his hair and touched up his makeup. At the same time, the wardrobe team also helped Simmons get into his costume.
At this time, Mathew claimed that Simmons tested positive for COVID-19. Mathews is reportedly “very concerned” with the COVID protocol and the decisions made by the management team.
It should be noted that, in August 2021, The Blast was among the first to report that KISS had to postpone their tour after Gene Simmons tested positive for COVID-19. Fortunately, he reportedly only had “mild” symptoms at the time.
Former KISS Hairstylist Claims Crew Was Directed to Attempt to Cheat on COVID-19 Tests
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If that wasn’t enough, David Mathews claims that “Doc” McGhee ordered him and other crew members to ingest an overdose of Steriwave in an attempt to “cheat the test” so they could fly commercially to Colombia for the next show on the tour.
At the time, it was reported that you could spend up to a year in jail if you flew commercially while knowingly testing positive for COVID-19. According to legal documents, Mathews began questioning the validity of the test results he received. Before he returned to the US to perform five scheduled shows, he and other crew members all tested negative for COVID-19.
About a month later, on May 19, 2022, “Doc” McGhee informed Mathews that the group was thinking of making changes in his department specifically because of the allegations made in Rolling stone magazine article about the lax COVID-19 policies in place at the time.
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According to court documents, “Doc” McGhee accused David Mathews of betraying the group and being disloyal to them by participating in anonymous interviews from the publication. Mathews insisted that he did not participate in the article and that he showed his loyalty by serving the group for thirty years, despite changes in his employment status.
On May 27, 2022, two days before he was scheduled to fly to Europe with KISS, “Doc” McGhee allegedly told Mathews that the band had decided to bring in someone to replace him and terminate his employment.
Now, Mathews is suing for unpaid wages, overtime, restitution of all monies owed to the plaintiff, and distribution of profits from the employer-defendant’s unlawful business practices.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
