A Jack Black Trump controversy is brewing after a Tenacious D bandmate made a joke about the former President at a concert late Sunday night in Sydney on July 14. The comment was made on stage by actor Kyle Gass, the lead guitarist and one of the vocalists for the band, after the assassination attempt on Trump. A video clip of the joke has been circulating social media and has stirred outrage by those who find it crass and ill-timed. Here’s an explanation of the controversy

What is the Jack Black Trump controversy?

The controversy between Jack Black and Trump stems from a comment Kyle Gass made on stage after Black asked his bandmate to “make a wish” after bringing out a cake to celebrate his birthday. Gass then commented, “Don’t miss Trump next time.”

Clips of the joke have been posted on TikTok and X (formerly Twitter), as shown above. A part of the crowd laughed at the comment and are seen clapping along, while other attendees were not as impressed. After Gass said the joke, Black then uttered “Thank you” in response.

According to one viewer speaking with Yahoo News, “You could hear a couple of ‘oohhs’ – like ‘too soon’ sort of vibes – but the vast majority was laughter. Many commentors, however, have criticized Tenacious D for the “bad joke.”

In June 2024, Jack Black attended a fundraiser for President Joe Biden that also featured former President Barack Obama, host Jimmy Kimmel, George Clooney, and Julia Roberts. Black appeared in “kick-ass American flag overalls” with a “Dark Brandon” T-shirt, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Black’s feud with Trump has been longstanding. In an interview with Conan O’Brian on his talk show in December 2017, he jokingly accused Trump for stealing his “greatest band in the world” shtick for his own campaign. Black called him an “evil ****ing warlock” that stole the band’s magic for his own.