Political rhetoric and divisiveness in the United States has been amped up in recent years to say the least. When politics or political views enters the sphere of arts and entertainment, there’s almost always some sort of backlash or outrage from the opposing viewpoint.
Comedy rock duo Tenacious D were on a tour of Australia back in July of 2024. At the time, then-Presidential candidate Donald Trump was stumping in Butler, Pennsylvania when he was nearly assassinated. During the band’s show in Sydney, Tenacious D’s Kyle Gass was celebrating his 64th birthday on stage. The band’s friend, dressed in a metal robot costume for a bit, held out a cake with candles. Gass’ bandmate Jack Black told Gass to make a wish. Gass said: “Don’t miss Trump next time.”
The backlash was almost immediate, and the band canceled their remaining tour dates. Gass issued an apology calling it “highly inappropriate, dangerous, and a terrible mistake.” Black then issued his own statement seemingly putting Tenacious D’s future in doubt. “I was blindsided by what was said at the show,” he said. “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.”
In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Gass has addressed the controversy publicly for the first time saying that Black “was doing what he felt he had to do. We’re separate people, always, and we’re on different career paths. I totally understood what he needed to protect. I didn’t begrudge him any of that.”
Gass continued: “It was terrible judgment, obviously. I’ve felt terrible ever since, because it’s such a responsibility to not screw up like that. I wouldn’t wish it on anybody. It’s one of those things, once it was picked up, it just got worse and worse. It was a Defcon 2 for sure in the camp. And I did it. It was hard to take responsibility for it, but it was my f*ck-up. When you’re in it, it’s hard to even think straight. It’s just this thing flooding and coming at you. We had to take the break. And I got it. Jack has this magnificent career; I can’t even count the franchises now. So as hard as it was, I just had to take the long ride home.”
As far as his current relationship with Black and the future of the band? “We hashed it out,” Gass said. “And it was hard. It is like a marriage. You go through these ups and downs, and try to understand your partner … but we will be back. We will return.”
