American comedy rock duo Tenacious D caused controversy during their current tour of Australia when they announced a simple wish on stage in Sydney: “Don’t miss Trump next time.”
The comment sparked outrage even from the usually unassuming Kyle Sandilands, who announced that Tinacius D, who has appeared on Kyle and Jackie O in the past, is now banned from the show for life over the “twisted” joke.
The moment came during the band’s show at the ICC Theatre in Sydney on Sunday night, which also happened to be band member Kyle Gass’ 64th birthday.
Singer and actor Jack Black stopped the show to celebrate the occasion, with Gus being asked to make a wish while he blew out the candles on the cake.
“Don’t miss Trump next time,” Gass declared that morning, referring to the failed assassination attempt on the former US president and current Republican presidential nominee.
The audience of 9,000 people could be heard erupting in laughter and cheers.
Donald Trump was injured in a shooting during a campaign rally, Gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks Which resulted in the death of one spectator and the serious injury of two others before he was killed by Secret Service snipers.
Gus’ controversial joke on stage was captured by at least one attendee, who shared the moment. On TikTok Where it was met with largely mixed reactions.
“As a Tenacious D fan, no, just no,” one person wrote.
“Hmm…the left is tolerating gun violence. Hypocrisy at its finest. Keep showing us your colors,” one comment read.
Another wrote: “Imagine if Joe Biden was the recipient. People would lose their minds. It’s a double standard.”
Others described the comment as “disgusting”, with one commenter even calling for a “boycott” of the band.
“Sick joke!! Terrible,” one woman wrote.
But the group had a few defenders: “Respect to Tenacious D,” read the first comment under the post. “And I love them even more,” read another top-rated comment.
As the clip went viral, Kyle Sandilands angrily called out the duo. On air this morning On the Kyle and Jackie O show.
The duo, who recently appeared on the show, announced: In February For discussing their tour, they have now been “banned for life.” Co-host Jackie O was the first to break the news without revealing which celebrities were responsible for the comment.
“Is someone promoting the assassination of another human being? Seriously, regardless of whether you like someone or not, wanting to kill someone and promoting it is the worst thing I have ever heard in my life,” Sandilands said.
“This is serious and complicated talk. Whoever this person is, they will be banned for life. I don’t want to talk to them again. Are we going to talk to this person?”
Sandilands said he was shocked to learn the joke came from Gus of Tenacious D.
“This is really amazing. Look, these two people seem like normal people, not crazy,” he said of the musical duo.
“Note to our talent bookers. I will not be participating in any future interviews with Tenacious D. Someone who wishes someone dead, almost assassinated. All jokes aside, this is more than I can take,” he continued.
Tenacious D’s Australian tour continues in Newcastle tonight ahead of dates in Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide. News.com.au has contacted the tour organiser today for comment.
Gass’ comments come as US President Joe Biden announced yesterday Condemn the assassination attempt He attacked his political rival and insisted that violence had no place in American politics.
“There is no place in America for this kind of violence, for any violence at all, no exceptions. We cannot allow this violence to be normalized. The political discourse in this country has become too heated. It is time to calm things down.”
He said that disagreement is part of democracy and human nature, but politics “should not be a real battlefield and, God forbid, a killing field.”
Tenacious D wasn’t the only major band to reference the assassination attempt on stage since Sunday: rapper 50 Cent to perform in Boston After the shooting that showed Donald Trump’s face photoshopped on Get rich or die trying’ Album cover.
He came and he’s singing the song. many men– Sample lyrics, “A lot of men wish me dead / Blood in my eyes, my friend, and I can’t see” – about his past experiences with death by gun violence.
