Tenacious D fans have been left completely baffled by the shock falling about between longtime friends and bandmates Jack Black and Kyle Gass, Daily Mail reports.
The Tenacious D comedy duo had been travelling around Australia on their Spicy Meatball tour but shockingly cancelled their final six shows after Gass made a divisive Donald Trump shooting joke.
Gass caused controversy at Sydney’s ICC Theatre on Sunday when Black brought a birthday cake out for him and asked him to make a wish, prompting the singer to reply: ‘Don’t miss Trump next time.’
The remark referenced how a shot fired by gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, missed Trump’s head and pierced his ear in a shooting which killed one spectator at a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Showgrounds in Pennsylvania.
Amid backlash to the comment, the duo postponed their Newcastle show on Tuesday before Black condemned his bandmate’s remark and cancelled the rest of their Australasian tour.
Black’s abrupt decision and blunt statement has left fans baffled as he effectively ended his longstanding 30-year relationship with Gass by announcing any ‘future creative plans’ were ‘on hold’.
Confused Tenacious D fans took to social media to question whether there was ‘more to the story’ after Black’s ‘extreme’ decision to seemingly end their partnership over the remark, despite having been friends since the 1980s.
‘There’s GOT to be more to this Tenacious D thing. You don’t end a relationship like that and screw up the livelihoods of your crew over a joke. Like, what’s tea?’ one fan wrote on X – formerly known as Twitter.
Another said: ‘From what Jack Black said, I think this goes farther than just public opinion.. It’s a Tenacious D story arc.’
A third commented: ‘So is Tenacious D getting “canceled” by the mob, or is Jack Black pulling the plug himself because he doesn’t want to deal with the negative attention/fallout?’
A fourth penned: ‘Jack Black is the Tenacious D fallout stopping the tour stuff a joke or what? Surely you can’t be that sensitive in the industry of comedy, and show business? Surely one joke can’t stop the D?’
‘The Tenacious D fallout feels a bit extreme don’t we think,’ a fifth tweeted while another added: ‘Jack Black being scared of upsetting white people was not on my bingo card.’
Other fans also specifically criticised Hollywood actor Black for his decision as they branded him a ‘coward’ for turning on Gass amid the controversy.
‘Jack Black turning on Kyle Gass is legitimately upsetting to me, I’m gonna have to take a long walk,’ one person wrote.
‘You’re upset at Jack Black because of what Kyle Gass said. I’m upset at Jack Black for turning his back on a 30 year long partnership for the sake of keeping his celebrity status,’ another commented.
Another unimpressed fan said: ‘Not Jack Black throwing Kyle Gass under the bus for making a joke about Trump. What an absolute coward.’
‘Jack Black should not be praised. Kyle Gass was the sacrificial lamb,’ another wrote.
Confused fans questioned if there was ‘more to the story’ after Black’s ‘extreme’ decision to seemingly end their partnership over the remark, despite having been friends since the 1980s
On Tuesday, Black distanced himself from Gass in a blunt statement condemning his friend’s Trump joke and cancelling the rest of Tenacious D’s Australian and New Zealand tour.
He told Daily Mail Australia: ‘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.’
Black’s decision comes just one month after he delivered a speech at a star-studded fundraiser in Los Angeles for President Joe Biden, where he said ‘democracy was at stake’ in November’s election.
Less than an hour after Black’s statement, Gass shared an apology to his own Instagram where he described his joke as ‘inappropriate’ and a ‘terrible mistake’.
He penned: ‘The line I improvised onstage [on] Sunday night 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 judgement.
‘I profoundly apologize to those I’ve let down and truly regret any pain I’ve caused.’
Black simply liked Gass’ apology post in what appeared to be a small show of support for his longtime friend and bandmate after his own blunt statement.
ll six remaining shows were cancelled after Frontier Touring first confirmed that Tuesday’s Newcastle show had been called off just three hours before doors were due to open.
The comedy duo were not due to wrap up their Spicy Meatball Tour until July 26, with fans left fuming over the abrupt cancellation as tickets are set to be refunded.
The implosion of the Aussie tour comes after Gass and Black faced backlash Down Under after the divisive Trump shooting joke, with some local politicians slamming the remark.
Former prime minister Kevin Rudd, who is now Australia’s ambassador to the United States, argued that the joke had made him ‘physically ill’.
Meanwhile, Senator Ralph Babet – who is an avid Trump supporter – called for Tenacious D to be deported from Australia because of Gass’ remark.
Radio host Kyle Sandilands also banned Tenacious D from his radio show for life in light of the comment.