Rock duo Tenacious D (Jack Black and Kyle Gass) are thrown into crisis mode after facing backlash for a joke about an assassination attempt former president donald trump at a campaign rally over the weekend. “After much consideration, I no longer feel it is appropriate to continue the Tenacious D tour and all future creative plans have been put on hold,” Black wrote in a statement on Instagram.
that actor Stealing the show as Bowser in last year’s hit film mario Movieas well as playing the satirical robot Claptrap in this summer’s show coming soon Borderlands adaptHe made the statement after performing in Sydney, Australia on July 14 as part of his current Tenacious D rock comedy tour. While everyone sang, his long-time musical partner Garth was presented with a birthday cake on stage. When asked to make a wish, Gase said, “Don’t miss Trump next time.” The crowd, including Black, erupted in laughter.
This comment was just posted One day after a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, One attendee died and two others were seriously injured, including what appeared to be a scratch on the Republican presidential candidate’s right ear. Trump’s international supporter, Australian Senator Ralph Barbet, called the country’s Prime Minister Ejecting Tenacious D over Garth’s joke. The band had been scheduled to play six more shows in Australia and New Zealand before Black announced his cancellation today. The change came as a surprise to many fans, given the pair’s past penchant for speaking their mind without hesitation.
Formed in 1994, Tenacious D has been releasing new albums and performing live performances on and off for decades. Last year, the band performed “Video Games” at the Game Awards 10th Anniversary Concert. The group has long been open about its politics, disparaging President George W. Bush in the 2000s as “worst president ever” and performed the song “The Government Totally Sucks” in 2017 to protest Trump. “Fuck that bullshit,” Black said Respect the then newly inaugurated president. “He screwed that up with his racist, sexist, misogynistic, hate-filled campaign.” The Hollywood star went on to defend the 2017 performance against critics on free speech grounds.
“I was caught off guard by the comments at the show on Sunday,” Black said he wrote in the statement. “I would never condone hate speech or encourage political violence of any kind.” Gase issued a similar apology on Instagram. “The lines I improvised on stage in Sydney on Sunday night were grossly inappropriate, dangerous and a terrible mistake,” he wrote. I do not condone violence of any kind against anyone. What happened was a tragedy and I am deeply sorry for my profound lack of judgment.
Black has been vocal about his support for President Joe Biden, and Tenacious D will hold a series of events Rock the Vote Concert in Swing States On the eve of the October elections. After the failed assassination attempt, Biden addressed the nation, condemning political violence and violent rhetoric and asking his political campaign to temporarily suspend attack ads targeting Trump, whom he said was a threat to democracy.
