Billy Corgan Breaks Silence On Chris Cornell Widow Backlash

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Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan has defended Chris Cornell’s widow Vicky Cornell after she has faced backlash from many fans over her lawsuit against Soundgarden‘s surviving members Matt Cameron, Kim Thayil, and Ben Shepherd over royalties and their unreleased new album, though there are other fans who have backed her up. Chris Cornell’s daughter Toni ripped Eddie Vedder’s wife recently over the drama surrounding the lawsuit.

Corgan himself called Soundgarden’s reunion a cash grab in the early 2010’s, saying they were back for ‘one more run at the till’ like Pavement. He claimed Cornell had said that his new Smashing Pumpkins lineup at the time without James Iha and D’arcy Wretzky was not ‘legitimate,’ and that the remark had felt like ‘somebody punching me in the face.’

Chris Cornell shot back that Corgan owed him money, “When Billy Corgan was completely broke, I got him a movie deal with director Cameron Crowe where he made $40,000. He was very happy about that, and he was specifically happy about the $40,000. So next time you see him, tell him he owes me my $40,000 back.”

Since Chris Cornell died in May 2017, Billy Corgan and his girlfriend Chloe Mendel have befriended Vicky Cornell and her mother Toni Karayiannis. A fan recently asked Corgan on Instagram, “Thoughts on the situation with Vicky Cornell and Soundgarden? I feel like people are way too harsh with her.”

Corgan responded, “Vicky is my friend and all I can say is I support her. It’s not a matter of choosing sides as much as saying she and her family have been through a lot and that needs to be considered, especially for the children.” Another fan asked, “Do you identify your 90’s work with Grunge?” Corgan shot back, “Not particularly. Clickbait: ‘Corgan buries Grunge….'” Vicky Cornell recently shot back at bold claims by Eddie Vedder’s wife and Matt Cameron.