Tenacious DKyle Gass has confirmed that he and his Tenacious D bandmate, Jack Black, have hashed things out following their tumultuous 2024 Australian tour.
In July 2024, Gass made an edgy joke about the assassination attempt on US President Donald Trump, which happened in the same week that Tenacious D were performing in Sydney. As his joke caught the attention of media outlets worldwide, backlash was swift.
Australian Senator Ralph Babet demanded the band’s immediate deportation from Australia. Tenacious D’s remaining tour dates Down Under were cancelled as someone threatened Gass’s 95-year-old mother, and reports surfaced that Gass had been dropped by his agent.
In addition to cancelling the rest of their Australian tour dates, Gass and Black announced that they’d be putting “all future creative plans” for Tenacious D on hiatus.
In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Gass has explained that he and Black have “hashed it out” and are working together once more.
Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter
“We hashed it out. And it was hard. It is like a marriage. You go through these ups and downs, and try to understand your partner,” Gass said. “We will serve no D-wine, before it’s D-time — but we will be back. We will return.”
Gass added that making the joke in Sydney was “terrible judgment” and admitted that he was “naïve” about the impact the comment would have, as global media outlets picked it up.
“It was terrible judgment, obviously,” Gass told Rolling Stone. “I’ve felt terrible ever since, because it’s such a responsibility to not screw up like that. I was naïve, of course — people are gonna pick that up. But I just felt it was kind of a private moment. I thought I was safe in the bubble. And it was so fast.”
At the time, Black wrote on social media: “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. After much reflection, I no longer feel it is appropriate to continue the Tenacious D tour, and all further creative plans are on hold. I am grateful to the fans for their support and understanding.”
Gass also shared a self-written statement, which read, “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.”
However, in the interview with Rolling Stone, he confirmed that he hadn’t recanted the joke. “If I would have recanted, I would have said that,” he explained.
In August 2024, Jack Black revealed that the duo are still friends and assured fans that Tenacious D would return.
“We need to take a break,” Black said. “Everybody needs a break sometime[s]. And we’ll be back.”
