UPDATE: A representative of Jack Black reached out Tuesday to offer a statement after the comedian’s bandmate joked about Saturday’s assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. Black said “all future creative plans are on hold.”
“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,” Black said in the statement. “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.”
Black, who has endorsed President Joe Biden, burst into laughter Sunday night after “Tenacious D” bandmate Kyle Gass joked about the assassination attempt against Trump.
Black sang “Happy Birthday” and presented a birthday cake to Gass during a Sydney, Australia performance. Video footage posted to X shows what happened next.
“Make a wish,” Black said after the song.
“Don’t miss Trump next time,” Gass responded.
Applause and laughter erupted from the crowd while Black also laughed at the joke.
This happened one night after a gunman attempted to assassinate the former president, shooting him in the ear at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The shot also killed a rally attendee and injured others.
Jack Black’s Anti-Trump History
Black called Trump an “evil f-cking warlock” in an interview with Conan O’Brien in 2017, saying the then-president stole the comedy approach from his band “Tenacious D,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“It’s like he saw us and said, ‘I’m going to use that technique,’” Black said at the time. “Now, when we go out and perform Tenacious D I always have a twinge of guilt because it’s like this evil f-cking warlock stole our magic and took out all the irony. … And it worked, and now he’s destroying the universe.”
In 2018, Black called Trump “a piece of sh-t” during the Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony.
In 2020, Black advertised a podcast called “Bobbo Supreme,” an “obvious and intended” mockery of the Trump presidency focusing on “an unhinged billionaire-turned-president who uses the Oval Office to sow racism and division,” according to Variety.
“Be frightened, America!” Black posted in his advertisement for the show.
That same year Black and Kyle Gass endorsed Biden for president and spoke about the importance of voter turnout.
“If there’s any Tenacious D fans out there that are on the fence, like ‘Hmm, I still don’t know who I’m going to vote for’ – we recommend you vote for Biden-Harris, because we feel very strongly about that,” Black said while the two appeared on MSNBC.
Black is still an avid supporter of Biden, who last month posted a photo featuring the comedian clad in campaign merchandise.
“Jack, you look great in my campaign merch. Now let’s see how many folks join you,” Biden said on X.
Black once again endorsed Biden at a fundraiser in June.
