In July 2024, following the assassination attempt on then presidential candidate Donald Trump in Butler, PA, Tenacious D found itself in the midst of controversy. During the band’s concert in Sydney, Australia, guitarist Kyle Gass said “don’t miss Trump next time” when he was presented with a cake for his 64th birthday and blew out the candles.
The next day, the band announced that they would be cancelling the remainder of their tour and frontman Jack Black released a statement saying that he was “blindsided” by Gass’ comment.
Now, during an interview with former President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden, reporter Andrew Callaghan alleges that George Clooney pressured Black to split-up the band.
“My only really famous Hollywood friend is actor Jack Black,” Callaghan said. “We used to be neighbors in Los Feliz. And Tenacious D did a concert in Sydney, Australia – This is the day after they tried to assassinate Trump… And I guess Jack Black’s guitarist, or whatever, jumps up on stage, and he yells something to the effect of, ‘Hey, next time you try to shoot Trump, aim a little bit closer.’”
He continued: “George Clooney is blowing his phone up, being like, ‘If you don’t kick your bandmember out of the band and, like, publicly denounce this guy’ — Like, I don’t know what the consequences were, but it was kind of like, ‘You’re out!’ Out of what, we don’t know. And so his hand was basically forced to be like, ‘Oh, sorry, my bandmember has serious mental-health problems. We’re breaking up the band for now. The tour is canceled.’”
It should be noted that the statement Callaghan is referring to – which was shared by Black to Instagram – actually reads:
“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.”
Following the incident, Gass had also issued an apology, writing: “The line I improvised onstage 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 judgment. I profoundly apologize to those I’ve let down and truly regret any pain I’ve caused.”
