Frontier Touring confirmed the cancellation of the remaining Australian and New Zealand tour dates this morning.
Tenacious D (Credit: Peter Dovgan)
Tenacious D’s Kyle Gass has reportedly been dropped by his agent after he made a joke about the attempted assassination attempt on former U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney on Sunday (14 July).
In case you missed it: On Sunday, Tenacious D were performing a sold-out show at ICC Sydney Theatre on guitarist Kyle Gass’s 64th birthday. Singer Jack Black kicked off the festivities, presenting a birthday cake carried by a giant robot and leading a “Happy Birthday” singalong with the audience.
Upon Black asking Gass to make a wish, the guitarist quipped, “Don’t miss Trump next time.”
While Gass’s joke was met with laughter from the crowd, he’s been met with criticism on social media. Yesterday (16 July), Australian Senator Ralph Babet, Leader of the United Australia Party, issued a statement demanding that “Tenacious D must be deported immediately.”
Yesterday’s Tenacious D show in Newcastle was postponed. Then, late last night, Jack Black wrote a statement on Instagram, revealing that the rest of the Australian tour was cancelled and Tenacious D might have just gone on hiatus.
“I no longer feel it is appropriate to continue the Tenacious D tour, and all further creative plans are on hold,” he wrote.
Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter
Frontier Touring confirmed that the six remaining tour dates in Australia and New Zealand have been cancelled this morning.
It looks like Tenacious D or Kyle Gass's troubles haven't ended. Reports from The Hollywood Reporter and TMZ allege that Gass has been dropped by his agent, Michael Greene of Greene Talent.
In a statement to Rolling Stone, Greene said the pair had cut ties.
“We have parted ways after what happened in Sydney,” Greene wrote. “Thank you.”
Gass shared an apology for his joke on social media last night, 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 judgement. I profoundly apologize to those I’ve let down and truly regret any pain I’ve caused.”
Jack Black and Kyle Gass last toured Australia in May 2013.