Jack Black and Tenacious D let down fans twice in three days | Kathryn Bermingham

Tenacious D has now let down their fans twice in the space of three days, writes Kathryn Bermingham.

• Adelaide slams Trump joke ‘cancel culture’

American comedy rock duo Tenacious D let down Adelaide fans twice in the space of three days.

First, when band member Kyle Gass made what many regarded to be a tasteless joke at a show in Sydney over the weekend.

Given a birthday wish on stage, Gass said – just hours after a sniper attempted to assassinate Donald Trump – “don’t miss Trump next time”.

Offensive? Yes. Too far? Absolutely.

It was, without a doubt, the wrong thing to say, and Gass was broadly criticised for the remark.

The band should have swiftly offered a full and genuine apology, then moved on.

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Instead, frontman Jack Black has chosen to cancel the rest of the tour and put “all future creative plans … on hold”.

“I was blindsided by what was said at the show on Sunday,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

“I would never condone hate speech or encourage political violence in any form.”

The Newcastle show was cancelled just hours before the band was due to take to the stage, along with scheduled shows in Brisbane, Melbourne, New Zealand and Adelaide.

It was a drastic move and one which ultimately punished the band’s fans, who have waited 11 years to see them back in Australia.

Many would have bought their tickets months in advance, made plans and perhaps booked travel and accommodation.

On social media, the disappointment was palpable.

Kyle Gass and Jack Black of Tenacious D. Picture: Scott Legato/Getty Images

“Soft. They should’ve used the Newwie (Newcastle) show to apologise and move on,” one comment on the band’s Facebook page said.

Another commented: “So sad. I don’t condone violence … At the same time it seems a huge over-reaction to a poor taste humorous comment.”

A huge over-reaction it was.

Taylor Swift told Time Magazine last year “I know I’m going on that stage whether I’m sick, injured, heartbroken, uncomfortable or stressed”.

“If someone buys a ticket to my show, I’m going to play it unless we have some sort of force majeure,” she said.

A bad joke hardly falls into that category.

There’s been much made over recent years of the effect of cancel culture on the entertainment industry.

In recent years, figures such as Ricky Gervais and Dave Chappelle have remarked that political correctness has gone too far.

But in this case, Jack Black has effectively cancelled himself.

And Adelaide fans are right to feel disappointed.

Originally published as Jack Black and Tenacious D let down fans twice in three days | Kathryn Bermingham