Gene Simmons has apologised for stating that former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley died as a result of "bad decisions"

The 76-year-rocker posted on social media platform X: "On reflection, I was wrong for using the words I used.

"I humbly apologise. My hand to God, I didn't intend to hurt Ace or his legacy, but upon rereading my words, I see how it hurt everyone. Again, I apologise, I've always loved Ace. Always."

Gene had claimed in an interview that Ace - a founding member of KISS who played in the Crazy Crazy Nights band until his departure in 2002 - had "refused" guidance from "people who cared about him" when it came to his health.

The star told the New York Post: "He refused (advice) from people that cared about him - including yours truly - to try to change his lifestyle.

"In and out of bad decisions. Falling down the stairs - I'm not a doctor - doesn't kill you. There may have been other issues, and it breaks my heart.

"The saddest thing. You reap what you sow, unfortunately."

Gene also found attending Ace's funeral "heartbreaking" and expressed regret that the guitarist couldn't be with the I Was Made for Lovin' You rockers when they entered the Kennedy Center Honors last weekend.

He said: "It breaks my heart. Peter Criss, our founding drummer, Paul [Stanley] and myself went to the funeral, open casket.

"It was just heartbreaking.

"Saddest of all perhaps is that Ace just couldn't stay alive long enough to sit there proudly at the Kennedy Center and listen to - I can't even tell you who's going to come out... really impressive people, just to say how much KISS meant to them.

"What can you say - sad."

Gene revealed last month that a seat was to be left empty in honour of Ace at the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony.

Speaking on stage in California, the 76-year-old rocker said: "?I wanna take a moment just to tell you that somebody I've known for many decades who started the band with us, a guy named Ace Frehley...

"Very sad. Paul and myself and Peter Criss, we went to Ace's funeral. He sadly passed. And the saddest part of all, besides the pain and suffering to his friends, family, his daughter, his wife, his whole family, is that Ace didn't live long enough to be with us on December 7 when the president and everybody's gonna get up there and honour KISS in entering the Kennedy Center Honors.

"And in Ace's memory, we're gonna make sure one of the four chairs is empty with Ace's name, because he deserves to be there in spirit, even if he can't be there physically."