Jack Black greeted fans in Sydney surrounded by bodyguards hours before Tenacious D cancelled their Australian tour.
The 54-year-old was seen leaving his luxury hotel a day after Tenacious D bandmate Kyle Gass made a joke about Donald Trump‘s assassination attempt at Sydney’s ICC Theater.
The controversial joke took place when Jack brought out a birthday cake for him and asked his friend to make a wish.
Gass said: “Don’t miss Trump next time”.
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Tenacious D cancel their Australian tour after bandmate’s joke
The music star was referencing the mass shooting that took place at Donald Trump’s campaign rally at Butler Farm Showgrounds in Pennsylvania over the weekend. The presidential nominee’s ear was pierced by a bullet by gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks.
A firefighter was killed by a gunshot as he shielded his family after hearing the shooting begin, as well as other people being left seriously injured.
The celebrity issued a statement where Tenacious D confirmed they had cancelled the rest of their tour in Australia on Tuesday.
“I was blindsided by what was said at the show on Sunday,” Jack Black said. “I would never condone hate speech or encourage political violence in any form.
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“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.”
But Tenacious D fans are upset, thinking Black has turned on Gass after cancelling the tour.
One person wrote on Twitter: “Jack Black turning on Kyle Gass is legitimately upsetting to me, I’m gonna have to take a long walk”.
Another said: “You’re upset at Jack Black because of what Kyle Gass said. I’m upset at Jack Black for turning his back on a 30 year long partnership for the sake of keeping his celebrity status.”
Politicians speak out
But the quip upset more than just fans of the group, with Kevin Rudd, Australia’s ambassador to the United States, condemning the joke.
While speaking at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, he said: “It makes me feel sick someone would joke about violence. Physically ill.
“People might think it’s a bit of “funny haha” at a concert to run off at the mouth off about this stuff. It’s not.
“It’s about threats to physical life; it’s about the near assassination of a former and prospective President of the United States, depending on the votes of the American people.
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“It’s about the murder of innocent civilians and two people being seriously wounded.”
Senator Ralph Babet said: “Tenacious D should be immediately removed from the country after wishing for the assassination of Donald Trump at their Sydney concert
“I condemn in the strongest possible way the call to political violence by Tenacious D in Sydney on Sunday.
“To advocate or wish for the assassination of a President is egregious, disgusting, filthy, evil, and not acceptable in any way, shape or form.”
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