Mario star Jack Black ends Tenacious D tour over Trump assassination comment
Topics: Mario, Real Life, no article matching
Featured Image Credit: Nintendo, Tenacious D
Topics: Mario, Real Life, no article matching
After all that these two have been through, no one saw it ending like this. Yet here we are, witnessing Tenacious D calling time on their partnership.
If this sounds like a fever dream to most, that’s because it reads like one.
To end the tour, and apparently the band altogether, over a Trump comment is strange even by Tenacious D standards.
Yet that’s what’s happening.
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In case you missed the unusual series of events, we're on hand to give you the details.
During the Australian leg of the tour, Tenacious D’s Kyle Gass made a birthday wish on stage after Mario star Jack Black sang him happy birthday.
This would prove the band’s downfall.
When asked to make a wish, Gass said, “Don’t miss Trump next time.” These words came a mere 24 hours after a failed assassination attempt on Trump’s life (he’s got a poorly ear as a result of that failure).
Some may think said comment distasteful, but there are far worse comments made on social media every day. However, those remarks don’t anger Ralph Babet, the leader of the United Australia Party.
In an official statement that called for Tenacious D’s deportation, Babet said, “Tenacious D should be immediately removed from the country after wishing for the assassination of Donald Trump at their Sydney concert.”
Given the backlash the band faced online from others as well, we expected the band to apologise in some way. But none of us expected Black to end his creative partnership and friendship with Gass.
“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,” Black posted.
“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 also made a statement issuing an apology for his “dangerous” remarks, speaking of his “severe lack of judgement” for saying such things.
And that’s where we find ourselves now: a band broken; a long legacy of rocking possibly undone.
Maybe the band will reunite after some time apart to reflect, but maybe they won’t. All we know is that now seems like an appropriate time to play ‘Dude (I totally miss you)’.