Jack Black breaks silence on Tenacious D’s future after Trump ‘joke’
Jack Black has revealed what the future holds for Tenacious D after bandmate Kyle Gass’s controversial comment on stage in Sydney about the assassination attempt on Donald Trump.
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Jack Black has revealed his band, Tenacious D, will make a comeback “when it feels right” after the star cancelled the remainder of the band’s world tour following a controversial comment by bandmate Kyle Gass about the assassination attempt against Donald Trump.
During Tenacious D’s show in Sydney on July 14, the day after the former US President was shot in the ear at a rally in Pennsylvania., Black gave Gass a birthday cake on stage and told him to make a wish.
“Don’t miss Trump next time,” Gass said.
Addressing the band’s future, Black said: “We need to take a break. Everybody needs a break sometime,” Black said at the premiere of his new movie Borderlands in Los Angeles.
Black revealed that he had spoken with Gass after condemning his bandmate’s remark about Mr Trump.
“Yeah, we’re friends. That hasn’t changed,” he said.
Jack Black's band member from Tenacious D, Kyle Gass, said he has a birthday wish:
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) July 15, 2024
"Don't miss Trump next time."
These people are more twisted and vile than we realized. And shame on all of the people in the crowd who thought this "joke" was funny. pic.twitter.com/b6rBNLcBp0
“These things take time sometimes … And we’ll be back when it feels right.”
After the comment sparked widespread backlash, Gass was dropped by his management company while Black announced that Tenacious D was cancelling the rest of their Spicy Meatball Tour.
Both members of the band spoke out about the controversy in separate statements.
Black said that he was “blindsided” by Gass’ comment at their show and “would never condone hate speech or encourage political violence in any form”.
Gass released an apology and said his remark was “highly inappropriate, dangerous and a terrible mistake”.
“I don’t condone violence of any kind, in any form, against anyone,” he wrote on Instagram. “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.”
Gass has since deleted the post.
Australia’s ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd blasted the comments, saying “these people should just grow up and find a decent job”.
“It makes me feel sick that someone would joke about violence. It just makes me feel physically ill,” Mr Rudd said.
“People might think it’s a bit of funny ha ha at a concert to run off at the mouth about this stuff — it’s not.”
Mr Trump was shot at by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was perched on a roof about 100 metres from the stage where Mr Trump was speaking.
Crooks was shot and killed by the Secret Service.
Mr Trump later addressed the shooting, telling the New York Post that the incident was a “very surreal experience”.