Tenacious D, the musical duo featuring Hollywood star Jack Black and musician Kyle Gass, has come under fire after a joke about the attempted Trump assassination made during a performance over the weekend.
The group received intense backlash online, and Black put out a social media post announcing the suspension of the group’s creative efforts.
Onstage Joke
During a performance on stage, Black sang Happy Birthday to his bandmate Gass and asked him to make a wish.
In response to Black’s Birthday song, Gass said that his wish would be that they “Don’t miss Trump next time.”
Viral Clip
A clip of this exchange between Black and Gass on stage went viral across multiple social media platforms including TikTok and X, garnering millions of views. Many expressed outrage at the joke.
“LOSERS!! Would you say that to the person who lost his life’s family? @Jack Black snd tenacious D are PATHETIC!! A good person lost their life!!! NOT A FAN ANY LONGER! Yall have ugly hearts,” said TikTok user Sunnie.
Dropped By Venue
After the incident garnered massive attention online, the hits just kept coming for Tenacious D. The concert promoter Frontier Touring announced on social media that their concert on Tuesday night had been postponed.
“Ticket holders are asked to hold onto their tickets until further information is available”, the company said.
Black’s Reaction
In an Instagram post, Jack Black said that he was “blindsided” by the joke from his bandmate and asserted he doesn’t support violence.
“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 wrote.
Creative Plans on Hold
Black’s post continued, announcing the suspension of the Tenacious D tour and that he is putting all future plans with the group on hold.
“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,” wrote Black.
Long Running Band
This abrupt pause to the group’s creative efforts comes as the duo has performed comedy and played rock music together for over 30 years.
Black and Gass have been together even before the formation of Tenacious D, performing in the 1980s in the Actor’s Gang Theatre troupe.
Post By Gass
Kyle Gass also released a social media post in the wake of the incident where he was profusely apologetic for the joke.
“The line I improvised onstage Sunday night in Sydney was highly inappropriate, dangerous and a terrible mistake. 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 judgment. I profoundly apologize to those I’ve let down and truly regret any pain I’ve caused,” Gass wrote.
Losing His Agent
In the wake of the controversial joke, Gass’s agent Michael Greene announced he was parting ways and would no longer serve as his talent agent.
“We have parted ways after what happened in Sydney,” Greene told Rolling Stone.
Angry Politician
While the video shows the audience laughing along with Gass’s joke, the reaction afterward was overwhelmingly negative.
Australian Senator Ralph Babet, who is head of the United Australia Party, has called for Gass to be deported from the country.
Babet Statement
In an X post, Babet demanded other politicians denounce the group and that the group’s visas to the country need to get pulled.
“Anything less than a deportation is an endorsement of the shooting and the attempted assassination of Donald J. Trump,” said Babet.
Hypocrisy Called Out
In his post, Babet felt that a previous incident where Novak Djokovic around vaccine concerns requires equal treatment for Tenacious D.
“Australia wrongly locked up Novack 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,” said Babet.
