Kyle Gass Reflects on the “Tsunami” of Backlash Following Tenacious D’s Controversial Trump Remark
A single off-the-cuff remark regarding the 2024 assassination attempt on Donald Trump was enough to fundamentally derail the trajectory of Tenacious D. In a candid new interview with Rolling Stone, musician Kyle Gass reveals that he has been haunted by the fallout ever since that fateful night on stage.
Speaking in a Q&A published Wednesday, Gass addressed the lingering remorse he feels after jesting that he hoped a future shooter wouldn’t “miss Trump next time” during a birthday celebration during a live show. Reflecting on the incident, Gass admitted he was “naive” to think the comment wouldn’t be amplified globally.
“I’m human, I made a mistake,” Gass explained. “I was going for a joke. But timing is everything. If there was ever a ‘too soon,’ it was this. And maybe I thought I was on it, or ahead of the curve. But no, it was definitely too soon.”
The controversy stems from an incident that occurred shortly after the Pennsylvania rally where a 20-year-old gunman fired at Trump, grazing the former president’s ear, killing one spectator, and injuring two others. When Gass made his ill-timed joke just two days later, the backlash was immediate and overwhelming. The comedy-rock duo promptly canceled their remaining tour dates, and while Gass issued a formal apology, his longtime collaborator Jack Black chose to publicly distance himself from the remark.
At the time, Black expressed his shock on social media, stating he would never condone political violence or hate speech. He subsequently placed all future creative endeavors for the band on an indefinite hiatus.
When questioned by Rolling Stone about whether he felt abandoned by his partner, Gass offered a perspective of understanding rather than resentment. He noted that Black was simply doing what was necessary to protect his own career and reputation.
“Jack and I are all good,” Gass clarified. “At the end of the day, we’re friends. I’ve known Jack since he was 18, and it’s been such a long marriage, really. You go up and down… It doesn’t even feel that different now.”
Despite the stability of their personal friendship, Gass described the public professional consequences as a “tsunami of s–t.” He confessed to deep regret over the lack of foresight regarding the massive ramifications of his words, asking himself, “Why would I do that?”
