Jack Black Addresses Tenacious D Fallout Following Trump Assassination Joke

Jack Black is speaking out on the recent drama surrounding his band.

The Tenacious D frontman canceled the rest of their tour after bandmate Kyle Gass made a joke about the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. Black publicly distanced himself from Gass at the time but is now clearing the air.

“I love Tenacious D… We had to take a break, but I love the D,” the actor told ET on Tuesday at the premiere of his latest film, “Borderlands,” in Los Angeles. “Everybody takes a break sometimes. We’ll be back.”

While their fans on social media disagreed the band “had to” take a break, Tenacious D experienced backlash when Gass, who was asked onstage in Sydney, Australia, to blow out his birthday candles and make a wish, joked: “Don’t miss Trump next time.”

Gass published an Instagram statement at the time to apologize for the “terrible mistake,” noting he doesn’t condone violence “in any form, against anyone.” He has since removed that post.

Black announced on social media that the tour would not continue.

“I was blindsided by what was said at the show on Sunday,” he wrote on Instagram at the time. “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.”

Social media users noted at the time that Black, who added that “all future creative plans are on hold” for the band, laughed at the joke onstage after Gass made it.

However, some fans believe neither Black nor Gass had anything to apologize for in the first place. Regardless, the “Spicy Meatball Tour” is on hold.

Whether it eventually picks up where it left off — with four more shows in Australia — remains to be seen.