Tenacious D Cancels Tour After Backlash Over Assassination Joke

UPDATE (7/16/24 6:45 a.m. PT): Kyle Gass responded with a statement of his own. “The line I improvised onstage Sunday night in Sydney was highly inappropriate, dangerous a terrible mistake,” Gass wrote. “I don’t condone violence of any kind, in any form, against anyone. What happened was a tragedy, and I’m incredibly sorry for my severe lack of judgement.” KG went on to “profoundly apologize to those I’ve let down.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/C9e9hS3x3f1/

Jack Black distanced himself from Tenacious D bandmate Kyle Gass and announced the cancelation of the pair’s tour in the wake of Gass’ controversial comment about the assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump. The fury was started when Gass responded “Don’t miss Trump next time” after he was presented with a cake to honor his birthday and asked to make a wish during Tenacious D’s Sunday night concert in Sydney.

Gass’ apparent joke led to an uproar in which Australian senator Ralph Babet called for Tenacious D to be deported. Babet said the duo “should be immediately removed from the country” in a statement on X. Organizers then “postponed” the pair’s concert scheduled for Newcastle Entertainment before Black pulled the plug on the entire tour.

Former president Donald Trump was shot and wounded on Saturday during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Gass’ quip came within 24 hours of the assassination attempt.

Jack Black took to Instagram to say he was “blindsided by what was said at the show on Sunday.” He went on to state, “After much reflection, I no longer feel it is appropriate to continue the Tenacious D tour, and all future creative plans are on hold.” It would appear Black’s statement also applies to U.S. tour dates in October, which are benefits for Rock The Vote.

“I would never condone hate speech or encourage political violence in any form,” Black wrote. “I am grateful to fans for their support and understanding.”

Watch Kyle Gass make the inflammatory comment and read Jack Black’s statement below: