Photo 188106299 | Tenacious © Alexandre Paes Leme Duro | Dreamstime.com with permission.

According to published reports, actor, musician and viral social media star Jack Black has said he was “blindsided” by Tenacious D  bandmate Kyle Gass’s on-stage comments about the assassination attempt against Donald Trump on Sunday and has canceled the rest of the world tour for his band, while decrying “hate speech or political violence in any form.”  Black has been a notable critic of Trump and President Biden supporter. At a tour date in Sydney, Australia, guitarist and vocalist Kyle Gass was presented with a cake on stage for his birthday and was asked to make a wish while blowing out his candles.

He appeared to reply, “Don’t miss Trump next time,” a reference to the assassination that left the former president with only minor injuries over the weekend, after Trump said a bullet grazed his right ear.

“I was blindsided by what was said at the show on Sunday,” Black said in his statement. “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 future creative plans are on hold. I am grateful to the fans for their support and understanding.”

Gass has since called the comment “inappropriate, dangerous and a terrible mistake” and apologized for his “severe lack of judgment.”

There were ten more sold-out stops scheduled for the Tenacious D tour: three in Australia, two in New Zealand and five in Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.