Tenacious D cancel tour after comments on Trump assassination attempt
The pair sparked controversy with Kyle Gass' comments over the weekend.
By Nick Reilly
Tenacious D have announced they are cancelling all tour dates, after the band’s Kyle Gass made a quip about the assassination attempt on Donald Trump over the weekend.
When performing in Sydney on Sunday (July 14), Jack Black brought a cake on stage and sung ‘Happy Birthday’ to his longstanding bandmate Kyle Gass, before asking him to make a wish. Addressing the audience, Gass replied: “Don’t miss Trump next time.”
In the wake of the comments, Black has now said he is putting the band’s ventures on hold.
“I was blindsided by what was said at the show on Sunday. I would never condone hate speech or encourage political violence in any form.
“After much reflection, I no longer feel it is appropriate to continue the Tenacious D tour, and all future creative plans are on hold. I am grateful to the fans for their support and understanding.”
Trump was the target of an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania over the weekend, but the shooter’s bullet only grazed Trump’s ear and instead claimed the life of a supporter at the rally.
Gass’ comments were said to have been met with laughter, but drew criticism on social media.
Commenting on X/Twitter, one fan wrote: “I used to love @tenaciousd and thought Jack Black was funny. None of them or their music/movies will ever be played in our home again. Ever. Sickening. Not funny and done in a foreign country is even worse. If you think it’s OK, unfollow and block me.”
Going even further, Australian federal senator Ralph Babet called for the duo to be deported from Australia.
“Tenacious D should be immediately removed from the country after wishing for the assassination of Donald Trump at their Sydney concert,” wrote Babet in a letter shared on social media.
He continued: “I condemn in the strongest possible way the call to political violence by Tenacious D in Sydney on Sunday. To advocate and or wish for the assassination of a President is egregious, disgusting, filthy, evil, and not acceptable in any way, shape or form. This was not a joke, he was deadly serious when he wished for the death of the President.”
“Anything less than deportation is an endorsement of the shooting and attempted assassination of Donald J. Trump, the 45th and soon-to-be 47th President of the United States,” he added.
Senator Babet concluded: “Australia wrongly locked up Novak Djokovic and deported him because he allegedly undermined public trust in vaccination. Allowing Tenacious D to remain in Australia after calling for the death of a President is unthinkable, and it affirms the weakness of our current Prime Minister.”
Confirming he was “fine” in the aftermath of the shooting, Trump said: “Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the rally who was killed and also to the family of [those] badly injured.
“It is incredible that such an act can take place in our country.”