Jack Black’s Tenacious D band cancels Aussie tour, Kevin Rudd blasts Trump comments

Comedian Jack Black has cancelled the Tenacious D tour of Australia and announced the band’s “future creative plans” are on hold. Here’s what happens if you had tickets.

Comedian Jack Black’s band Tenacious D has cancelled its Australian tour.

Black said in a social media post on Tuesday night it would not be appropriate to continue the tour and “future creative plans” were now on hold.

“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.

“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.”

Tenacious D has sparked outrage after band member Kyle Gass joked “Don’t miss Trump next time” as he was given a birthday wish at a Sydney concert at the weekend.

Jack Black of Tenacious D performs at PNC Music Pavilion in September 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Picture: Getty

Australia’s ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd slammed 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.

“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.”

Meanwhile, a United Australia Party senator demanded the immediate deportation of the band following what was deemed an “evil” comment about former U.S. President Donald Trump’s shooting.

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 Immigration 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.”

Kyle Gass (L) and Black. Picture: Getty

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

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

Melbourne fans holding tickets to see Tenacious D were on Tuesday left wondering what might happen to their tickets.

“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”.

Gass and Black perform. Picture: Getty

But Frontier Touring on Wednesday morning confirmed the remainder of Tenacious D’s Australian and New Zealand tour had been cancelled.

“Tickets will be automatically refunded in full (including refundable ticket purchase, if relevant) to the original payment method used for purchase and patrons do not need to take any action,” the statement said.

“Patrons should allow approximately 30 business days for the refund to appear in their account.

“Please do not contact Ticketek regarding your refund.”

The band had been set to play shows in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia.

The cancelled gigs came after a crowd at the Sydney concert laughed along as Black and 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 laughed along.

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

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

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

Originally published as Jack Black’s Tenacious D band cancels Aussie tour, Kevin Rudd blasts Trump comments