Actor Jack Black released an official statement after receiving backlash for comments one of his bandmates made about the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
The 54-year-old actor was touring in Sydney, Australia, over the weekend with his band, Tenacious D, when the controversial remarks were made. Black presented bandmate Kyle Gass with an opportunity to make a birthday wish, to which Gass replied from the stage, “Don’t miss Trump next time.”
His comments have resulted in a backlash against the band and Black himself. Now the “School of Rock” actor is saying he didn’t know Gass would respond that way and that he was “blindsided” by the remarks. Black also said he would no longer tour with the band.
“I would never condone hate speech or encourage political violence in any form,” Black said in a statement, per USA Today. “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.”
The incident came just weeks after Black attended a fundraiser for President Joe Biden.
“A few days ago, my manager called me and said George Clooney and Julia Roberts wanted me to help out the president, and speak here tonight, and I said, ‘I am in. When and where?’” the actor said at the time.
“And then they hit me with the big one. They said, ‘Jack, you can’t go. You have nothing to wear. Your good suit is in the cleaners.’ Well, were they wrong? Because I had this to wear, my kick-ass American flag overalls — most patriotic outfit of all times. And that shut ’em up.”
The Hollywood fundraiser led by Clooney was the same one at which the “Ocean’s 11” actor said he realized that Biden was not mentally fit to run for re-election. Shortly after Biden’s disastrous debate performance, Clooney published an op-ed in the New York Times which highlighted his desire for Biden to leave the race.
“The one battle he cannot win is the fight against time. None of us can,” Clooney wrote. “It’s devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fund-raiser was not the Joe ‘big F-ing deal‘ Biden of 2010. He wasn’t even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate.”
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