Tenacious D’s Kyle Gass put himself in the proverbial line of fire for making a joke about the assassination attempt of Donald Trump.
The rock duo, comprised of Gass, 64, and Jack Black, 54, was performing at the ICC Sydney Theatre in Australia on Sunday, the day after Trump, 78, was shot in the ear at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Black brought out a birthday cake for Gass, who turned 64 that day, and asked him to “make a wish,” as seen in fan footage.
“Don’t miss Trump next time,” Gass responded.
The audience laughed at Gass’ remark.
However, the comment wasn’t received as well online. Fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to slam Gass and defend the former president.
“Extremely poor taste,” one person tweeted.
“Any shred of career he had left is probably done now,” another tweet read.
A different fan said, “Shameful.”
“Deplorable and indefensible,” someone else tweeted.
The gunman who attempted to assassinate Trump was identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pa. He crawled onto the roof of a manufacturing plant more than 130 yards away from the stage at the Butler Farm Show grounds.
He was shot and killed by Secret Service snipers. Trump made his first appearance since the attempt Monday at the GOP convention in Milwaukee, where his right ear was seen wrapped in a bandage. He was joined by his official running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio).
Black addressed the Tenacious D controversy in a statement to the Post, revealing the band is postponing the rest of their shows on their “Spicy Meatball Tour.”
“I was blindsided by what was said at the show on Sunday,” Black said in his statement. “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.”
Gass, for his part, issued an apology on Instagram for his comment.
“The line I improvised onstage Sunday night in Sydney was highly inappropriate, dangerous and a terrible mistake,” said Gass. “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.”
Senator Ralph Babet, a member of the right-wing United Australia Party, condemned Gass’ comment and called for both members of the band to be “deported immediately.”
“Tenacious D should be immediately removed from the country after wishing for the assassination of Donald Trump at their Sydney concert,” Babet’s statement read.
“I condemn in the strongest possible way the call to political violence by Tenacious D in Sydney on Sunday,” the 41-year-old politician continued. “To advocate and or wish for the assassination of a President is egregious, disgusting, filthy, evil, and not acceptable in any way, shape or form. This was not a joke, he was deadly serious when he wished for the death of the President.”
“Anything less than deportation is an endorsement of the shooting and attempted assassination of Donald J. Trump,” Babet said.
After the backlash, Tenacious D initially postponed just their sold-out show in Newcastle, Australia that was scheduled for July 16.
The postponement was announced by Frontier Touring, the company producing the group’s “Spicy Meatball Tour.”
“Frontier Touring regret to advise that Tenacious D’s concert tonight at Newcastle Entertainment Centre has been postponed,” the company wrote on Instagram. “Ticket holders are asked to hold onto their tickets until further information is available.”
Black is an outspoken supporter of President Joe Biden. The “School of Rock” actor delivered a speech at a star-studded fundraiser for Biden’s reelection campaign in Los Angeles last month.
Barack Obama, Jimmy Kimmel, George Clooney and Julia Roberts also took part in the event, which raised over $30 million.
In his speech, Black, who had on what he called “kick-ass American flag overalls,” cracked jokes as he proudly stumped for Biden, 81, ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
“And when the president wins in November — yeah! — I’m pretty sure I’m going to get a sweet shout-out in his victory speech for what I gave up to be here,” Black said. “Because when democracy is at stake, Jack Black answers the call. Mr. President, you’re welcome.”
Last week, Clooney, 63, wrote an op-ed published in The New York Times about that same fundraiser, calling for Biden to step down and end his campaign for re-election.
“I love Joe Biden. As a senator. As a vice president and as president. I consider him a friend, and I believe in him. Believe in his character. Believe in his morals,” he wrote. “It’s devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fundraiser was not the Joe ‘big F-ing deal’ Biden of 2010. He wasn’t even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate.”
“We are not going to win in November with this president,” he continued. “This isn’t only my opinion; this is the opinion of every senator and Congress member and governor that I’ve spoken with in private. Every single one, irrespective of what he or she is saying publicly.”