Jack Black cancels the remainder of his Tenacious D tour after bandmate Kyle Glass made a controversial statement about the attempted assassination of former President Trump.
Gass, one half of the satirical rock-comedy duo, sparked outrage when he was asked to make a wish for his 64th birthday during a Sunday show in Sydney. He reportedly replied: “Don't miss Trump next time,” in reference to Saturday's shooting at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The Grammy-winning band postponed a show in Newcastle, New South Wales, on Tuesday in the wake of the controversy. Tenacious D, who gained a cult following in the late 1990s with a handful of short films that aired after episodes of “Mr. Show,” had been scheduled to play more shows in Australia and New Zealand this month before resuming their tour in the United States for a handful of shows in October.
Black said Tuesday that what Gass said onstage Sunday “caught him by surprise.”
“I would never condone hate speech or encourage political violence in any form,” the “School of Rock” and “Super Mario Bros. Movie” star wrote on Instagram.
“After much reflection,” he continued, “I no longer believe it is appropriate to continue the Tenacious D tour, and all future creative plans are on hold.”
Black also said he is “grateful to the fans for their support and understanding.”
Gass, who has been an outspoken critic of the Trump family, also apologized for his comment on Tuesday.
“The line I improvised on stage Sunday night in Sydney was highly inappropriate, dangerous and a terrible mistake,” she wrote on Instagram about an hour after Black’s statement was posted.
“I do not condone any kind of violence, in any form, against anyone. What happened was a tragedy and I am deeply sorry for my grave lack of judgment. I deeply apologize to those I have let down and I am truly sorry for any pain I have caused.”
