Jack Black cancels Tenacious D tour following Kyle Gass' Donald Trump comment
He has released a statement
Last updated 17th Jul 2024
Jack Black has cancelled the rest of Tenacious D’s Australia and New Zealand tour after his band mate Kyle Gass made a controversial comment about Donald Trump at a recent show.
During Tenacious D’s concert at ICC Sydney Theatre on Sunday night (14th July), Jack Black sang ‘Happy Birthday’ in honour of Kyle Gass turning 64.
Asked to “make a wish” as he blew out the candles, Gass then appeared to say “don’t miss Trump next time” a day after Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt.
Footage of the incident went viral on social media, and Australian politician Senator Ralph Babet called on the pair to be deported.
“I call on the prime minister Anthony Albanese to join me in denouncing Tenacious D, Jack Black and band member Kyle Gass, and I call on the immigration minister Andrew Giles to revoke their visas and deport them immediately,” Babet said on Tuesday.
“Anything less than a deportation is an endorsement of the shooting and the attempted assassination of Donald J Trump.”
Hours later, concert promoter Frontier Touring said on social media that it regretted “to advise that Tenacious D’s concert tonight (16th July) at Newcastle Entertainment Centre has been postponed.”
Jack Black has since taken to Instagram to post a statement confirming he has pulled the plug on Tenacious D’s entire Australia and New Zealand tour.
“I was blindsided by what was said at the show on Sunday,” Black wrote. “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 further creative plans are on hold.
“I am grateful to the fans for their support and understanding.”
Kyle Gass has issued his own statement, saying: “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 judgement. I profoundly apologise to those I’ve let down and truly regret any pain I’ve caused.”
It’s currently unclear whether Tenacious D’s North American tour in the autumn will go ahead as planned.
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