Kyle Gass is finally breaking his silence about the comment that nearly ended Tenacious D.
The musician sparked massive controversy back in July 2024 during a concert in Sydney, Australia, when he made an off-the-cuff remark about the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump.
A year-and-a-half later, Gass admits he showed “terrible judgment” and didn’t anticipate the storm that would follow.
In a candid new interview with Rolling Stone while promoting his Kyle Gass Band’s upcoming live album, he’s opening up about the moment that forced Tenacious D off tour and created a rift with his longtime partner Jack Black.
The Birthday Wish That Went Viral
The incident happened just one day after an assassination attempt on Trump during Tenacious D’s Sydney show. It was Gass’s birthday, and mid-concert, Black brought out a cake for his bandmate.
When Black told him to make a wish, Gass responded with four words that would change everything: “Don’t miss Trump next time.”
The comment immediately triggered waves of criticism from right-wing media and forced Tenacious D to cancel remaining tour dates. What seemed like a throwaway line became an international incident overnight.
“Terrible Judgment, Obviously”
Reflecting on that night, Gass admits he didn’t fully grasp what he’d done until hours later.
It was terrible. It was terrible judgment, obviously.
He recalls that the magnitude of his mistake didn’t sink in immediately. Only later that evening, when the comment became a worldwide story, did reality hit.
I wouldn’t wish it on anybody. It’s one of those things, once it was picked up, it just got worse and worse.
Gass described the situation as “Defcon 2 for sure in the camp,” acknowledging the severity of the crisis his words created.
Taking Responsibility
In the immediate aftermath, Gass issued a public apology calling his joke “highly inappropriate, dangerous, and a terrible mistake.”
Black, meanwhile, publicly distanced himself from his partner, stating he would “never condone hate speech or encourage political violence in any form.”
Now, speaking openly for the first time about the backlash, Gass says the guilt has stayed with him.
I’ve felt terrible ever since, because it’s such a responsibility to not screw up like that.
He acknowledges that owning the mistake was difficult, but necessary.
It was hard to take responsibility for it, but it was my fuck-up. When you’re in it, it’s hard to even think straight. It’s just this thing flooding and coming at you.
The Impact on Jack Black
Perhaps the most painful aspect for Gass was understanding how his comment affected Black’s career. Black has built an empire across multiple franchises, from Kung Fu Panda to Jumanji, and the controversy threatened that carefully constructed brand.
Jack has this magnificent career; I can’t even count the franchises now. So as hard as it was, I just had to take the long ride home.
Gass recognized that his partner had far more at stake professionally. The forced break, while devastating, was understandable given what Black stood to lose.
Healing a Partnership
Despite the extended silence from Tenacious D following the incident—save for a single song on a charity record last year—Gass reveals that he and Black have been working through their issues.
We’ve hashed it out and it was hard. It’s like a marriage. You go through these ups and downs, and try to understand your partner.
The comparison to marriage feels apt for a duo that’s been performing together for decades. Like any long-term relationship, theirs required difficult conversations and mutual understanding to survive this crisis.
The D Will Return
For fans wondering if Tenacious D is finished, Gass has a message: the band will be back.
We will serve no D-wine before it’s D-time — but we will be back. We will return.
The promise, delivered in classic Tenacious D fashion with a playful twist, suggests the duo is committed to moving forward together. When exactly they’ll return remains unclear, but Gass’s words indicate the partnership has survived its biggest test.
Lessons in Accountability
Gass’s reflection on the incident offers several takeaways about public figures navigating controversial moments:
- Context matters: Words spoken in what feels like a private moment can instantly become global news
- Accountability is essential: Taking full responsibility, rather than making excuses, is the only path forward
- Relationships require work: Even decades-long partnerships need effort to overcome major breaches of trust
- Professional consequences are real: Understanding how personal actions affect partners and collaborators is crucial
Gass’s admission that he was “naive” about potential backlash speaks to how quickly social media can amplify a single moment into a career-defining crisis. His experience serves as a cautionary tale about the permanence of public statements in the digital age.
As Gass continues promoting his Kyle Gass Band’s live album, he’s clearly attempting to rebuild his career beyond Tenacious D. But his commitment to eventually reuniting with Black suggests that some partnerships are worth fighting for, even after spectacular public failures.
The road back may be long, but if Gass and Black can truly hash out their differences, Tenacious D’s return could mark not just a comeback, but a testament to resilience, accountability, and the enduring power of creative partnerships forged over decades.