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4 months ago
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Former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd has slammed Jack Black's band Tenacious D after a member made a joke about the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.
Band member Kyle Gass caused controversy on Sunday night during a performance at the ICC Theatre in Sydney, Australia, when Black brought a birthday cake out for him and asked him to make a wish, prompting Gass to reply, 'Don't miss Trump next time.'
This was a crude reference to how the bullet fired by 20-year-old gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks just missed Trump's head and instead hit his ear as he spoke at a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Showgrounds in Pennsylvania.
Despite eliciting laughter from the 9,000-strong crowd, the comment received widespread backlash, causing Jack Black to cancel the band's Australian tour.
Rudd, who is now Australia's ambassador to the United States, said the joke made him 'physically ill' and that it was just not funny.
'It makes me feel sick someone would joke about violence. Physically ill,' Rudd told news.com.au.
'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.'
Jack Black 's Tenacious D bandmate Kyle Gass made an divisive comment about Donald Trump's attempted assassination (pictured L-R, Kyle Gass, Jack Black and John Spiker)
'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,' Rudd said.
'It's about the murder of innocent civilians and two people being seriously wounded.'
Rudd added the band members of Tenacious D needed to 'grow up' and 'find a decent job'.
Black, who is widely known for his roles in the films School of Rock and Kung Fu Panda, claimed he was 'blindsided' by his bandmate's comments.
In a post to social media, the actor confirmed that the band was canceling all its remaining Australian shows.
'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 wrote.
'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 issued his own statement on Tuesday: '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.'
Australia's ambassador to the US, and former prime minister, Kevin Rudd (pictured on the right at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee) claimed Gass' remark made him feel 'physically ill'
Black claimed to be 'blindsided' by his bandmate's comment
Meanwhile, United Australia Senator Ralph Babet has called for the American rock duo to be deported from the country following Gass' remark.
Babet, who is an avid Trump supporter, condemned Gass' remark as 'evil' and that wishing for the death of a president was 'not a joke'.
He described Trump as the 'soon-to-be 47th President', despite the fact Trump is still in the running against President Joe Biden ahead of the November 2024 election.
'Tenacious D should be immediately removed from the country after wishing for the assassination of Donald Trump at their Sydney concert,' Babet said in a statement.
'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.
'This was not a joke, he was deadly serious when he wished for the death of the President.'
Babet also urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to denounce Tenacious D and support his call for the band's deportation.
'I call on the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese to join me in denouncing Tenacious D, Jack Black and band member Kyle Gass, and I call on the Immigration Minister Andrew Giles to revoke their visas and deport them immediately.
'Anything less than deportation is an endorsement of the shooting and attempted assassination of Donald J. Trump, the 45th and soon-to-be 47th President of the United States.
'Allowing Tenacious D to remain in Australia after calling for the death of a President is unthinkable, and it affirms the weakness of our current Prime Minister.'
Australian Senator Ralph Babet called for both Black and Gass to be deported from the country in the wake of the wake of the joke
During a political rally in Pennsylvania, a barrage of shots was fired, with one bullet grazing the ear of second-time presidential hopeful Donald Trump (pictured)
English (US)