Jack Black has been labelled a coward for abandoning his longtime friend and Tenacious D bandmate Kyle Gass after he made a bad-taste joke about the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump.
Gass caused controversy on Sunday night during a performance at the ICC Theatre in Sydney, Australia, when Black brought a birthday cake out for him and asked him to make a wish, prompting Gass to reply, ‘Don’t miss Trump next time.’
This was a crude reference to how the bullet fired by 20-year-old gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks just missed Trump’s head and instead hit his ear as he spoke at a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Showgrounds in Pennsylvania.
Instead of standing by Gass – with whom he has been friends since the mid 1980s – Black sought to distance himself from the guitarist with a blunt statement effectively saying their band, and working relationship, was over.
The funnyman appears to be trying to salvage his new role as a Hollywood statesman as he deepens his involvement in U.S. politics, having last month delivered a speech at a Biden fundraiser in which he warned ‘democracy was at stake’ at the forthcoming election.
This, in addition to Tenacious D abruptly cancelling all remaining dates of their Australian and New Zealand tour, has prompted loyal fans of the comedy duo to criticise Black, 54, as a traitor and a coward.
‘Jack Black turning on Kyle Gass is legitimately upsetting to me, I’m gonna have to take a long walk,’ one person wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
‘You’re upset at Jack Black because of what Kyle Gass said. I’m upset at Jack Black for turning his back on a 30 year long partnership for the sake of keeping his celebrity status,’ another commented.
Jack Black (right) has been labelled a coward for abandoning his longtime friend and Tenacious D bandmate Kyle Gass (left) after he made a bad-taste joke about the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump
Fans slammed Black for claiming he was blindsided by his Tenacious D bandmate’s tasteless comments and cancelling the comedy band’s tour
Another unimpressed fan said: ‘Not Jack Black throwing Kyle Gass under the bus for making a joke about Trump. What an absolute coward.’
‘There’s GOT to be more to this Tenacious D thing. You don’t end a relationship like that and screw up the livelihoods of your crew over a joke. Like, what’s tea?’ one said.
‘Jack Black should not be praised. Kyle Gass was the sacrificial lamb,’ another wrote.
It comes as former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd criticised Gass’ Trump quip while at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
Rudd, who is now Australia’s ambassador to the United States, said the joke had made him ‘physically ill’.
‘It makes me feel sick someone would joke about violence. Physically ill,’ Rudd told news.com.au.
‘People might think it’s a bit of “funny haha” at a concert to run off at the mouth off about this stuff. It’s not.
‘It’s about threats to physical life; it’s about the near assassination of a former and prospective President of the United States, depending on the votes of the American people.
‘It’s about the murder of innocent civilians and two people being seriously wounded.’
Last month, Black, 54, delivered a speech that went viral at a star-studded fundraiser in Los Angeles for President Joe Biden, where he said ‘democracy was at stake’ in November
It comes as former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd (right) criticised Gass’ Trump quip while at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee
Rudd said the Tenacious D duo needed to ‘grow up’ and ‘find a decent job’.
Black, who is widely known for his roles in the films School of Rock and Kung Fu Panda, issued a statement on Tuesday saying he had decided to cancel his comedy band’s tour – and that all creative plans were on hold – after Gass expressed that he wished Trump’s would-be assassin hadn’t missed.
Black’s decision comes just one month after he delivered a speech at a star-studded fundraiser in Los Angeles for President Joe Biden, where he said ‘democracy was at stake’ in November’s election.
Democrats have been criticised for raising the political temperature in America by claiming a Trump presidency would be a threat to democracy.
‘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 told DailyMail.com in a statement.
‘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.’
The incident has since prompted divisive reactions online, with Kyle Sandilands banning Tenacious D from his radio show for life in light of the comment.
Speaking on Tuesday’s Kyle & Jackie O show, radio host Sandilands said: ‘So, that guy wishes death on Trump.’
‘A note to our talent bookers, I will not be participating in any future Tenacious D interviews,’ he went on.
‘Someone wishing someone dead that nearly got assassinated, all jokes aside, it’s too much for me. Anyone who wishes someone else dead, legit is just a piece of s**t.’
Gass caused controversy on Sunday night when he made a joke on stage in Sydney about the attempted assassination of the former American president
Frontier Touring has announced refunds for all Tenacious D ticket holders.
The concert promoter confirmed on Wednesday morning that shows in Newcastle, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Wellington, and Auckland were cancelled.
‘Frontier Touring regret to advise that the remaining dates of Tenacious D’s tour of Australia and New Zealand have been cancelled,’ they wrote.
‘Ticket holders who purchased tickets via authorised ticketing outlets will receive a full refund. A communication to all ticket holders will be sent today with more information.’
Frontier Touring has announced refunds for all Tenacious D ticket holders after the band cancelled their Australian and New Zealand tour
