Jack Black cancels tour following co-star's controversial comment
Jack Black has cancelled the remaining tour dates for his band Tenacious D after controversial comments by bandmate Kyle Gass.
During a gig on Sunday (July 14) in Australia, Gass alluded to the assassination attempt on former US president Donald Trump over the weekend when being presented a birthday cake on stage by Black.
After Black asked him to make a wish, Gass allegedly replied: "Don't miss Trump next time."
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Following the comments, Black has now issued a statement on Instagram, saying he was "blindsided" by the remark and revealed that the rest of the ongoing tour is cancelled.
"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," he wrote. "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 has also released a statement on Instagram in which he apologised for the on-stage comment: "The line I improvised on stage 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 judgement. I profoundly apologize to those I've let down and truly regret any pain I've caused."
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The assassination attempt took place on Saturday (July 13) at a rally in Pennsylvania, where a shooter identified as Republican Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire on Trump.
The former president was pushed to the ground by Secret Service agents for protection, and was left with a bleeding ear, but later clarified that he is "fine". Crooks was shot dead at the scene, while one person at the rally was killed and two others were critically injured.
Following the attack, an episode of The Simpsons, 'Lisa the Iconoclast', was pulled from Channel 4 in the UK. Fans speculated that this was to do with a scene in which a gunman appears on a roof, while also suggesting that the episode's subject matter – where Springfield's founder is discovered to be a murderous pirate who tried to assassinate George Washington – was also a factor.
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