Jack Black hints at Tenacious D split in first statement since Trump shooting joke
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Jack Black has suggested that his rock band Tenacious D might break up after facing backlash for a joke they made about Donald Trump's assassination attempt during a concert in Australia.
Black posted a message on his Instagram account on Tuesday, expressing his surprise and disappointment over the comments made during the show on Sunday. He emphasized that he does not support hate speech or violence in politics.
Tenacious D was supposed to perform in Newcastle tonight, but the sold-out concert was unexpectedly canceled this afternoon.
"Upon careful consideration, I have decided to pause the Tenacious D tour and put all future creative projects on hold," Black expressed in his announcement. "I appreciate the support and understanding from our fans."
Black and his bandmate Kyle Gass from Tenacious D were putting on a show at the ICC Sydney Theatre in Australia on Saturday (July 13), following the incident where the ex-president was shot in the ear at his Pennsylvania rally earlier that same day.
To celebrate Gass turning 64 on Sunday, Black, who is 54, gave him a cake while they were on stage. Black can be seen on a video shared on TikTok telling Gass to make a wish. As Gass blew out the candles, he joked: "Don't forget to invite Trump next time."
The comment received a lot of criticism online right away, and Senator Ralph Babet, who is the leader of the United Australia Party, issued a statement on Monday calling for Black and Gass to be sent out of the country.
Babet stated that Gass's remark was serious and urged Australia's immigration minister Andrew Giles to cancel their visas, saying that anything short of deportation would be supporting the shooting and attempted assassination of Donald J. Trump.
On Tuesday, Gass also released his initial response to the joke, but did not give any indication about what may happen with the band in the long run.
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Gass expressed regret for his impromptu remark during the show in Sydney on Sunday. He admitted that it was wrong and apologized for the mistake. Gass emphasized that he does not support any form of violence and acknowledged that his actions were a tragedy. He apologized to those he disappointed and expressed remorse for any harm caused.
Trump was giving a speech at a political event recently when a 20-year-old man named Thomas Matthew Crooks tried to shoot him in an attempt to kill the former president.
The criminal, who was a member of the Republican Party, shot eight rounds, resulting in the death of one individual in the gathering and causing injuries to at least two others in addition to Trump, before he was fatally shot by a sniper.
The reason why the gunman carried out the shooting is not yet known. The FBI is looking into the possibility that it may have been an act of domestic terrorism.
That night, singer Jason Aldean performed his 2023 song "Try That in a Small Town" and dedicated it to his "buddy" Trump, causing some controversy.
"It just goes to prove that there is a lot of nonsense in the world, and that's basically what this song is all about. So, this song is dedicated to the President," Aldean shared with the audience.
