" I was blindsided by what was said at the show on Sunday . I would never condone hate speech or promote political violence in any var. , " Jack Black wrote in a statement .
Tenacious D’s upcoming tour has been canceled following Kyle Gass’s joke about the assassination attempt of former presidentDonald Trump.
The duo performed in Sydney this weekend as part of their Spicy Meatball Tour. During the show,videosshowJack Blackpresenting his bandmate with a birthday cake via a “robot” and asking him to make a wish.
“Don’t miss Trump next time,” Kyle, now 64, replied, hours after the shooting.
Pro-Trump local right-wing Senator Ralph Babet subsequentlycalledfor the band to be “immediately removed” and deported from Australia, calling Kyle’s words “not a joke.” The band appears to have since already beenspottedin Newcastle, Australia.
However, as early as Tuesday morning, thewebsitefor their show tonight read, “Frontier Touring regret to advise that Tenacious D’s concert tonight at Newcastle Entertainment Centre has been postponed. Ticket holders are asked to hold onto their tickets until further information is available.”
In a follow-up, Jack — who has previouslyendorsedPresidentJoe Biden— posted on his Instagram this morning, “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.”
“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,” he concluded.
Kyle then took to his own page, saying, “The line I improvised onstage Sunday night in Sydney was highly inappropriate, dangerous and a terrible mistake. 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 judgment. I profoundly apologize to those I’ve let down and truly regret any pain I’ve caused.”
We’ll keep you posted with any updates.
