Jack Black Ends Tenacious D Tour After Bandmate Jokes About Trump Shooting
Jack Black is speaking out against his bandmate’s controversial comment about the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
Tenacious D, the American comedy-rock duo that includes movie star Jack Black, announced on Tuesday that the remainder of their tour would be cancelled and all future plans were put on hold after the band’s other member, Kyle Gass, made an informal comment on stage about the attempted assassination of former President Donald J. Trump.
On Sunday, the rock comedy group was on stage in Sydney, Australia, when Gass was asked to make a wish after receiving a cake for his 64th birthday.
He seemed to respond: “Don’t miss Trump next time.”
In a statement on Instagram, Jack Black said he was “surprised” by the comment.
“He would never tolerate hate speech or encourage political violence in any form,” the comedian and actor wrote.
Jack Black said he did not feel it was “appropriate to continue the Tenacious D tour” and that the rest of the group’s “creative plans are on hold.”
Black added that he is “grateful to the fans for their support and understanding of him.”
The controversy had already caused Tuesday’s concert in Newcastle, New South Wales, to be postponed. Also, read – BTS Jin hints at the upcoming overseas schedule
Kyle Gass apologizes for ‘dangerous’ joke about Trump assassination attempt
In his statement shared Tuesday on Instagram, Gass apologized for the comment and made it clear that it was not planned.
Gass posted an apology on social media stating that “the line I improvised on stage on Sunday night in Sydney was highly inappropriate, dangerous and a terrible mistake.”
“I do not condone violence of any kind, in any form, against anyone,” he wrote. “What happened was a tragedy and I am very sorry for my serious lack of judgment. “I deeply apologize to those I have let down and am truly sorry for the pain I have caused.”
Meanwhile, Michael Greene said Tuesday that Greene Talent, Gass’ talent agency, had parted ways with him.
Call for the deportation of Tenacious D (Kyle Gass and Jack Black)
Shortly before the announcement of the cancellation of the entire tour, the band, active since 1994, postponed its Tuesday date in Broadmeadow, Australia.
Following Gass’ comments on stage, Senator Ralph Babet of the centre-right United Australia party called for the duo’s deportation. In a lengthy statement posted online, he said: “Tenacious D should be immediately expelled from the country after wishing for the assassination of Donald Trump at his concert in Sydney.”
Gass’ comments received backlash when they went viral on social media on Monday. “Evil,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk wrote in response to a clip of the moment. The video showed the concert audience applauding Gass’ joke, although Black did not comment on it. “Thank you,” he said before continuing with the show.
What happened to Donald Trump?
Trump was shot in the ear when a gunman opened fire at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
The FBI has identified the gunman who attacked Trump as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, who graduated from the Community College of Allegheny County two months ago and worked as a dietary aide at a nursing home. He was a member of the Clairton Sportsmen’s Club in the greater Pittsburgh area, which features a 200-yard shooting range, the club’s legal counsel said in a statement.
A Secret Service sniper shot Crooks dead after he shot the former president. One spectator was killed and two others were seriously injured. Law enforcement officers recovered an AR-15-type semi-automatic rifle from Mr. Crooks’ body. The F.B.I. He said the gun was purchased legally by the shooter’s father, but it was unclear how the shooter obtained possession of the firearm.