Comedian and actor Jack Black announced Tuesday he has canceled the remainder of his Tenacious D tour following a verbal threat one band member made toward former President Donald Trump mid-performance.
The onstage comment occurred while Black’s band was performing in Sydney, Australia. Black brought out a birthday cake during the show and asked fellow band member Kyle Gass to make a wish, who then said, “Don’t miss Trump next time,” before blowing out the candles. Gass’s comment came only a day after Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt Saturday.
NEW: Comedian Jack Black’s bandmate makes a “birthday wish” during a performance in Sydney, says he wishes they “don’t miss Trump next time.”
Black was videoed giving Tenacious D band member Kyle Gass a birthday cake.
“Make a wish,” Black said.
Gass then responded: “Don’t… pic.twitter.com/jSyqrKISOl
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 15, 2024
“I was blindsided by what was said at the show on Sunday,” Black wrote on Instagram. “I would never condone hate speech or encourage political violence in any form. 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.”
Gass has also issued his own statement on social media, describing his improvised line onstage as “a terrible mistake.” He then called the attempted assassination of Trump “a tragedy” and apologized for his “severe lack of judgment.”
The apologies from Black and Gass come after Australian Sen. Ralph Babet, a member of the United Australia Party, demanded Tenacious D be deported immediately from the country. Babet added Gass was not joking in his onstage statement, and called on Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to join him in his denunciation.
“Australia wrongly locked up Novak Djokovic and deported him because he allegedly undermined public trust in vaccination,” Babet’s statement read. “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.”
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Last month, Black partook in a fundraiser for President Joe Biden’s campaign, which was hosted by actor George Clooney. Black has also advocated the Biden campaign, with the Biden-Harris HQ social media account sharing footage of him saying, “My president needs me.”
Clooney has since withdrawn his support for Biden, arguing in an op-ed that the president should not seek a second term following his performance at the first presidential debate.