Australia reacts to Jack Black cancelling Tenacious D tour in amid Trump backlash

Aussies have reacted after Jack Black cancelled Tenacious D’s tour because he was ‘blindsided’ by a bandmate’s ‘hate speech’ against Donald Trump. Kevin Rudd has also weighed in.

Comedian Jack Black has cancelled his Tenacious D tour after saying he was “blindsided” by jokes against Donald Trump during his Sydney concert.

The rockers were set to play six shows across New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Adelaide, Wellington and Auckland, all of which have now been cancelled.

Bandmate Kyle Gass was given a birthday wish on stage and asked that a potential assassin “Don’t miss Trump next time”.

“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 said on social media.

“After much reflection, I no longer feel it is appropriate to continue the Tenacious D tour, and all future creative plans are on hold.”

Tenacious D fans were left in limbo after Black postponed his Newscastle concert before announcing the rest of his tour was indefinitely cancelled.

They were also fuming, saying: “Celebrities need to stay out of politics”.

Another wrote: “A joke is a joke, but this wasn’t the time nor place.”

Gass also apologised for the “improvised” joke made on onstage in Sydney, saying it was “highly inappropriate, dangerous and a terrible mistake”.

“I don’t condone violence of any kind, in any form, against anyone,” Gass added.

“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.”

Australia’s ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd, meanwhile, 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.”

Kevin Rudd at the Republican Convention where Donald Trump revealed his VP pick. Picture: Supplied / ABC Pool

“It’s about physical life, it’s about the threats to physical life, it’s about the near assassination of a former and prospective president of the United States -- depending on the vote of the American people -- and it’s about the murder of an innocent civilian and two people being seriously wounded.”

It comes after a United Australia Party senator has demanded the immediate deportation the band following an “evil” comment about Trump’s shooting.

In a post shared on Facebook on Tuesday afternoon, Frontier Touring announced the band’s Newcastle concert would be postponed.

“Ticket holders are asked to hold onto their tickets until further information is available”, the post read.

“Hope it’s the only show postponed”,” one fan wrote in response.

While another was outraged, saying: “We drove hours had flights with our accommodation and a couple hours notice cancellation”.

Another added on X: “Jack Black turning on Kyle Gass is legitimately upsetting to me, I’m gonna have to take a long walk.”

“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.

Another unimpressed fan said: “Not Jack Black throwing Kyle Gass under the bus for making a joke about Trump. What an absolute coward.”

The news of the postponed gig comes after a crowd at the Sydney concert of Tenacious D laughed along as comedian Black and his bandmate Kyle Gass joked over a birthday wish: “Don’t miss Trump next time”.

The video went viral after it was boosted by billionaire Elon Musk as “evil” and “contemptible”, prompting outrage among American commentators against both Tenacious D and the crowd that thought they were funny.

Hollywood star Jack Black and Kyle Gass at the Sydney concert. Photo: Tom Parrish

“The crowd seemed to think the “joke” was funny. Maybe, just maybe, these people are actually the evil ones,” said political pundit Collin Rugg, who shared the video.

“The people who claim to be moral and empathetic are currently celebrating an assa*sination attempt on a president.”

In a statement on Tuesday, Senator Ralph Babet condemned the act and called for the duo to be “immediately removed from the country”.

“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,” the statement read.

“This was not a joke, he was deadly serious when he wished for the death of the President.”

Senator Babet called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to join him in his stance, while urging Immingration Minister Andrew Giles to revoke the pair’s visas immediately.

“Australia wrongly locked up Novak Djokovic and deported him because he allegedly undermined public trust in vaccination,” he said.

“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.”

The clip shows Black giving Gass a birthday cake and telling him to make a wish.

While the audio shows the crowd laughing, cheering and clapping, other disapproving tones can be heard below the hum.

Political activist Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, called it “Trash. Utter Trash”.

Jack Black's band member from Tenacious D, Kyle Gass, said he has a birthday wish:

"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

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) July 15, 2024

“These people are more twisted and vile than we realised. And shame on all of the people in the crowd who thought this ‘joke’ was funny,” he said.

Filmmaker Robby Starbuck added that Black was guest of honour at Biden’s star-studded fundraiser.

“Biden supporters are inciting another attempt to assassinate President Trump. Evil and sick,” he said.

Black joined George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Barack Obama at a star-studded fundraiser for Joe Biden in June.

“Because when democracy is at stake, Jack Black answers the call. Mr President, you’re welcome,” he said.