Tenacious D has canceled its world tour, including a scheduled performance in Michigan, due to a controversial joke made by band member Kyle Gass. The joke, which referenced an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, was made during a concert in Sydney, Australia. This decision came shortly after the incident and amid widespread backlash.
The offensive comment occurred hours after Thomas Matthew Crooks attempted to assassinate Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. Gass remarked onstage, “Don’t miss Trump next time,” which sparked immediate outrage. The backlash included calls from Sen. Ralph Babet of the United Australia Party for Gass’s deportation. Public reaction escalated quickly with expressions of anger and disappointment flooding social media.
Jack Black, co-member of Tenacious D, took to Instagram to voice his disapproval of Gass’s actions and the subsequent cancellation of their tour. He stated: “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.” He added, “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.”
In response to the fallout, Kyle Gass apologized through his Instagram account admitting his mistake. He posted: “The line I improvised onstage Sunday night in Sydney was highly inappropriate, dangerous, and a terrible mistake.” Further elaborating on his regret he added: “I don’t condone violence of any kind, in any form, against anyone. What happened was a tragedy and I’m incredibly sorry for my severe lack of judgement. I profoundly apologize to those I’ve let down and truly regret any pain I’ve caused.”
As a result of the controversy, all remaining dates on the ‘Spicy Meatball’ tour have been scrapped including an anticipated show in Kalamazoo scheduled for October 25.
Tenacious D is known for its blend of comedy and rock music with Jack Black and Kyle Gass as founding members since 1994. Renowned for their energetic performances and humorous lyrics addressing everyday issues through satire themes often leads them into media spotlights beyond planned publicity events like concerts or releases. Their popularity ensures they remain significantly influential figures in both entertainment scenes such as cinema where Black has an extensive acting career while also holding sway over large audiences through musical outputs observed notably during live shows or recorded releases distributed globally across various platforms facilitating broad societal discourse stemming from their actions whether intended or consequential inadvertently.
