Jack Black ends Tenacious D tour after bandmate's Trump shooting ...

16 Jul 2024

Entertainment

The comedy rock duo Tenacious D — made up of Jack Black and Kyle Gass — has cancelled the rest of their tour after Gass' remarks about the assassination attempt on Donald Trump.

Jack Black - Figure 1
Photo CBC.ca
Kyle Gass says improvised line was 'dangerous,' apologizes for 'terrible mistake'

Maria Sherman · The Associated Press

· Posted: Jul 16, 2024 12:22 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 hours ago

Musicians Kyle Gass, left, and Jack Black of Tenacious D perform onstage during Spike's 'Rock the Troops' event held at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Oct. 22, 2016 in Honolulu, Hawaii. ( Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Spike)

The comedy rock duo Tenacious D — made up of Jack Black and Kyle Gass — has cancelled the rest of their tour after Gass' remarks about the assassination attempt on Donald Trump.

While onstage at a concert in Sydney, Australia on Sunday, Gass was presented with a birthday cake and asked to "make a wish" by Black.

Gass responded, "Don't miss Trump next time," an apparent reference to the rally shooting a day before that left the former U.S. president with an injured ear.

Jack Black - Figure 2
Photo CBC.ca
Black 'blindsided' by Gass' comment

The video of Gass was widely circulated on social media.

 "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," Black said in a Tuesday statement on Instagram.

"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."

Following Black's statement, Gass apologized on Instagram.

"The line I improvised Sunday night in Sydney was highly inappropriate, dangerous and a terrible mistake," he wrote Tuesday. "I don't condone violence in any kind, in any form, against anyone.

"What happened was a tragedy, and I'm incredibly sorry for my severe lack of judgment."

The band recently completed dates in the U.S. and Europe. Their Spicy Meatball Tour was slated to continue Tuesday night in Newcastle, hitting most major cities in Australia and New Zealand this month before returning to the U.S. for a select few dates in October.

Jack Black - Figure 3
Photo CBC.ca

"Frontier Touring regret to advise that Tenacious D's concert tonight at Newcastle Entertainment Centre has been postponed," their touring company announced in a statement on Instagram Tuesday.

"Ticket holders are asked to hold onto their tickets until further information is available."

When asked for further comment, a representative for the band directed The Associated Press back to Black's statement.

Details on refunds for the remaining tour dates were not immediately available.

WATCH | Trump assassination attempt: The reaction, investigation and political consequences: 

Trump assassination attempt: The reaction, investigation and political consequences
Former U.S. president Donald Trump left for the Republican National Convention a day after an assassination attempt at a campaign rally killed a bystander. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden called for unity as investigators searched for the shooter’s motive.
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