Is this the most disgraceful interview Anthony Kiedis has ever given?
No one would ever accuse the Red Hot Chili Peppers of being shy about their sexual nature. Whether through provocative lyrics in songs like ‘Suck My Kiss’ or the raw recollections in Anthony Kiedis’ memoir Scar Tissue, the band built an infamous reputation around themes of carnal desire and lecherous, perhaps even perverse, ideals. To some, this was simply part of their image, but for others, it was much more than just a pose.
While being in a successful band in the 1990s often mirrored the wild lifestyle of the ’60s, with sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll at the forefront, looking back on those times today can often leave us cringing. In the case of Anthony Kiedis, there have been numerous rumours surrounding potential sexual assaults and a number of troubling comments made in the public sphere.
There’s no denying that the ’90s were a different era, a time when many incidents were overlooked that shouldn’t have been. Male musicians, in particular, were often allowed to get away with unacceptable behaviour, largely due to their celebrity status. Record labels, with a long history of fearing backlash from their stars, were often reluctant to say ‘no’, further enabling this conduct.
There are countless troubling instances of musicians behaving inappropriately, and it’s not limited to just the ‘90s. This kind of unchecked behaviour has existed long before and, unfortunately, still occurs today. However, the key difference now is accountability. People—especially women—are no longer afraid to call out men for their unsavoury actions, and this shift has been a long time coming. Things are finally changing for the better.
This shift in accountability has revealed numerous instances where some of our most beloved musicians have been tarnished by their past actions. One particularly unsettling moment involving Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis occurred in 1991. While the exact channel is unclear, the incident featured a female presenter visibly uncomfortable with Kiedis’ advances, a moment that now makes the stomach churn when looking back.
In the middle of an interview question, Kiedis leaned into the presenter’s face, attempting to give her “a little kiss”. Despite her telling him to “back off, baby” and saying no at least four times, Kiedis persisted, eventually kissing her. The presenter appeared visibly uncomfortable, even after Kiedis returned to his seat, as she tried to salvage the interview from derailing completely. Kiedis later calmly remarked, “She told me before the interview that if I didn’t kiss her, she would not come and see us play tonight,” an explanation that further adds to the unsettling nature of the incident.
Watch the bizarre clip below. A word of warning, it may be triggering for some readers.
