Jack Black has announced he is prematurely halting the upcoming Tenacious D tour due to controversial comments made by his bandmate, Kyle Gass, in reference to the Donald Trump assassination attempt.
The comedy rock band, which is fronted by Black and Gass, were due to make several stops in Australia and New Zealand later this month.
Tenacious D Formed Almost 30 Years Ago
Tenacious D was formed in 1996 by Black and Gass, who first met a decade before.
The pair had met in an acting troupe called The Actors’ Gang, based in Los Angeles.
Initial Animosity
The pair had initially disliked each other, with Black claiming that Gass, as the leader of the troupe, had felt threatened by Black.
The pair, however, bonded on a trip to perform at the Edinburgh Festival, where they would climb Arthur’s Seat, the tallest hill in Edinburgh, together.
Legacy
The pair released several albums together over the decades, most recently Post-Apocalypto in 2018, the songs of which debuted on Tenacious D’s web series, Tenacious D in Post-Apocalypto.
The pair also released Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, a 2006 fantasy comedy that initially flopped in the box office.
Trump Assassination Attempt
Donald Trump faced an assassination attempt on Saturday, when a gunman climbed to the roof of a building near one of his rallies.
The shot left Donald Trump with only a minor injury to his ear but fatally wounded a spectator, the firefighter Corey Comperatore.
Gass Comments Unplanned
Gass made the controversial comments regarding the assassination attempt in the middle of a show on Sunday.
The comments were branded “evil” by Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, who was responding to a clip of the incident on X.
Australia and New Zealand Tour Cancelled
Black announced that he is halting the upcoming Tenacious D tour, which had included stops in Australia and New Zealand later this month.
He made this decision in response to Gass’ comment on stage, which he said “blindsided” him.
Violent Birthday Wish
Gass was presented with a birthday cake as Black sang him happy birthday in the middle of their performance.
As he blew out the candles, Gass made his wish: “Don’t miss Trump next time.”
Black Distances Himself From the Comments
Black did not reportedly challenge the joke immediately, but has subsequently distanced himself from his bandmate’s comments.
In a statement published in USA Today, Black said: “I would never condone hate speech or encourage political violence in any form. After much reflection, I no longer feel it is appropriate to continue the Tenacious D tour, and all future creative plans are on hold.”
Black a Known Biden Supporter
Black is a well-known supporter of Biden’s presidency, having delivered a speech at one of his re-election fundraisers back in June.
He made a comedic speech while wearing a pair of American flag dungarees at the event to support Biden and Harris’ campaign.
