Jack Black has announced the cancellation of the remainder of Tenacious D’s The Spicy Meatball Tour following backlash received over a controversial comment made by duo partner Kyle Gass on stage in Australia over the weekend. The announcement came Tuesday, following harsh criticism the musical-comedy duo received after making a joke on-stage in Australia about the assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump.
Gass came under fire after making an off-color remark about the assassination attempt of Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. In fan-captured footage, Black presents Gass with a cake on stage for his 64th birthday, telling him to “make a wish,” with Gass commenting, “Don’t miss Trump next time,” to which Black replied, “Thank you.” While the audience responded with laughter, after the moment went viral it faced immediate backlash, with Australian officials even calling for the duo to be deported from the country immediately.
United Australian Party Senator Ralph Babet said in a statement on social media that “Tenacious D should be immediately removed from the country after wishing for the assassination of Donald Trump at their Sydney concert. I condemn in the strongest possible way the call to political violence by Tenacious D in Sydney on Sunday. To advocate and or wish for the assassination of a President is egregious, disgusting, filthy, evil, and not acceptable in any way, shape or form. This was not a joke, he was deadly serious when he wished for the death of the President. 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. Anything less than deportation is an endorsement of the shooting and attempted assassination of Donald J. Trump, the 45th and soon-to-be 47th President of the United States. Australia wrongly locked up Novak 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.”
In his statement on social media Tuesday, Black wrote: “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. 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.”
Gass also apologized, stating: “The line I improvised onstage Sunday night in Sydney was highly inappropriate, dangerous and 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.”
Tenacious D launched The Spicy Meatball Tour last year, performing in 24 cities and selling out London’s O2. The tour was to hit seven cities through Australia and New Zealand through next week.
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