Jack Black axes tour over bandmate's Trump comment
Jack Black axes tour over bandmate's Trump comment
Kyle Gass sparked an outcry with a comment on stage about the assassination attempt on Donald Trump.
Jack Black has said he’s cancelled the rest of the Tenacious D world tour after his bandmate Kyle Gass sparked an outcry with a comment about the assassination attempt on Donald Trump.
The comedy rock group were on stage in Sydney, Australia, on Sunday when Gass was asked to make a wish after being presented with a cake for his 64th birthday.
He appeared to reply: "Don’t miss Trump next time."
Gass also split with his agent following the incident.
Serious question for anyone who believes political violence is never ok: at what point on the timeline do you think it was ok to respond to Hitler with violence?
1923 Beer Hall Putsch? SA violence in the early 30s? The Nazi party being sworn into power in 1933? Reischstag Fire? Night of the Long Knives?
Trump already has the support of a bought and paid for corrupt court, and we've already had Jan 6th. He's promised to be dictator on day 1.
Is political violence truly never the answer?
Calls for order over justice is the hallmark of someone who never had to fight for their rights. It's a position of privilege.
Something something letter from Birmingham Jail
Yup, exactly this. DARVO is the standard abusers’ playbook, and it also applies to oppression.
D is Deny/Downplay. “No, oppression doesn’t happen. And if it does, it’s not as bad as you’re making it out to be.”
A is Attack. When they can’t deny it anymore, they’ll go on the offensive. Try to redirect the focus back to the victim. “Well what about…”
RVO is Reverse Victim and Offender. When outright attacking the victim doesn’t work, they move on to playing the victim. Make the real victim look bad, to garner sympathy. Pretend to be the helpless one in the situation, and say that the victim is attacking you for no reason.
When the oppressed fight back, the oppressors will act offended and use it to further victimize the oppressed.
The founders believed in political violence. That’s the point of the 2nd amendment.
That’s the thing. Violence should never be the answer. The problem is that the worst of us count on other people not fighting. So, when it's actually time for violence, it’s too late.
What you've done is proposong a solution without clearly defining the problem. That makes your question sound appealing, it makes it sound rhetorical, but actually is meaningless without context.
Supposed the shooter had succeeded in his objective. One might imagine that Joe would win in November, maybe. But four years from now there would be a different candidate with just as bad views on those same issues, and the institutional problems that allowed Trump to gain power would still be in place.
Is gambling on 4 years of possible peace worth legitimatizing the policy of executing people whose political views you don't like? That's something you have to decide for yourself.
Many fundamental issues facing the country today go back decades. Pick your poison. Stacking the courts is an old strategy. Citizens United happened long ago. Redistricting and gerrymandering have been happening for decades if not centuries. All of those things matter, none of them were caused by Trump, and none of them would be fixed if Trump were gone. The systemic weaknesses can only be fixed by implementing systemic solutions, whatever those might be.
but actually is meaningless without context.
I don't think I need a complete solution to be of the opinion that Hitler needed to be met with violence at some point. Of course we can't know that Trump will be the same, but is there a possibility that his election in November leads to at least decades of Christofascist laws being enacted, if not a civil war? Perhaps by the time it becomes obvious that we've reached that point it'll be too late.
Maybe Joe's win this year will only put off the inevitable. But maybe it'll lead to someone the next election with enough guts to give SCOTUS what they want and show them what a president with immunity can do, and the 6 who voted for making the president a king will end up in a black site until their more suitable replacements can be installed. At which point hopefully the corrupt ruling can be overturned by justices who aren't being bribed. I don't know shit about the law but I trust that if someone like Kagen says political assassinations are now legal, that's further into fascism territory than I want our country to be.
You ask if gambling on 4 years of peace before something worse happens is worth it. I'd ask if gambling on a Trump election in November is something the US will survive. I guess we'll see, because there's no way in hell Biden's doing anything illegal-- oh sorry, I meant any of the now legal things that Trump won't hesitate to do when he's "dictator day one".
Ever since this incident when U.S. politicians collectively argued that political violence was not okay, I have thought 'I wonder how Fred Hampton would feel about these folks denouncing political violence?' -I admit I don't know the answer to this question, but when I consider the specific people going around vocally denouncing political violence, I'm not so convinced that those same people don't protest too much.
How many rights taken away is too much?
Is political violence truly never the answer?
Personally, no. But, I'm a "no-first-strikes" pacifist. Violence harms the victim, the perpetrator, and those who witness it directly or indirectly. It can also cause great harm to efforts to affect political and social change.
However, I think that history does show that it has an important role, supposing its adherents follow strict ethical constraints and do not attempt to install themselves as bosses (something that is not terribly common in history). For non-violence to be truly effective, it needs to be clear and plausible that violence is the alternative. The Labor Movement had the likes of The Molly Maguires. The suffragettes had the likes of the WSPU. And the non-violent anvil of Dr. King had the hammer of Malcom X.
Choosing to travel through time to kill a historical figure is easy because we know exactly what will happen if nothing is changed.
Killing a modern day figure is different because we don't know what's going to happen in the future. We can guess, but that's it.
For example, at what point would it have been appropriate to assassinate Smedley Butler? 92 years ago today, it might have seemed like he was poised to become a dictator.
On the other side of this coin, is this: https://www.historyisnowmagazine.com/blog/2024/3/19/what-if-archduke-franz-ferdinand-of-austria-had-not-been-assassinated
I get a lot of downvotes whenever I ask this and very rarely responded to, but if violence is the solution, why have you not started the violence, or at least started gathering people together?
I no longer live in the US, plus I'm fat, lazy, and have no idea how to organize people or start a revolution. If it were up to me I'd lose the war to fascists. But that doesn't change the fact that someone should probably do something about fascists. And if violence isn't the answer and you're someone who's similarly worried about fascism, why haven't you gotten around to a getting started on a non-violent way to solve the problem?
I'm simply of the opinion that at some point along the way, talking nicely to Hitler wasn't going to change anything. I'm just wondering where along that point in time people think that was.
I would think that if Trump was going to remove his own term limits so he could be President for Life and then start murdering his political rivals, it would have been in his first term when he had the House, Senate, and Supreme Court locked down. As it stands, he's only going to be in power for another four years, worst-case scenario. It would take a constitutional amendment to change that (which is a big part of why he isn't President for Life). I'm not going to sit here and say when it's okay to start killing politicians, other than that we aren't there yet.
I'd like to ask you a question as well: if Trump died, what do you think would have happened? Do you think that 100% of the gun-toting pro-Trump militias throughout the country would have laid down their arms and admitted defeat? Do you think that the political faction that is, on average, more likely to own and use guns than the left, would have said "well that sucks I guess"? Do you think that Democrats across the country would be safe? Or do you think it would be a Shot Heard Cross the Coasts that would have started a free-for-all of political violence that the country hasn't seen in decades - perhaps centuries?
While I do think that the right of the people to govern themselves has certain implications I won't get into here, it also means we have legislative options on the table. You have freedom of speech, which is why we can ask questions like yours and mine. We have the right to assemble, form parties, and elect officials. Let's use those rights while the government hasn't decided to destroy them yet; and if they ever do, let's take the discussion to a more anonymous forum like on Tor or I2P.
Do you think that 100% of the gun-toting pro-Trump militias throughout the country would have laid down their arms and admitted defeat? Do you think that the political faction that is, on average, more likely to own and use guns than the left, would have said "well that sucks I guess"? Do you think that Democrats across the country would be safe? Or do you think it would be a Shot Heard Cross the Coasts that would have started a free-for-all of political violence that the country hasn't seen in decades - perhaps centuries?
I don't think either of those scenarios would happen. Maybe a civil war's coming, but we're not there yet. Or at least not quite yet.
As it stands, he's only going to be in power for another four years, worst-case scenario.
I think worst case scenario outside literal king trump is project 2025 ensures enough gerrymandering and partisan hackery gets put in place such that dems never again see house and senate majorities or the presidency in our lifetimes, and then the freedoms that are the will of the vast majority like Roe continue to fall. Gay marriage will be next, guaranteed.
I'm not going to sit here and say when it's okay to start killing politicians, other than that we aren't there yet.
I don't necessarily disagree with this, but like I mentioned in another comment, with a bribed SCOTUS giving the legal power to execute political rivals to the president (according to Kagen anyway), by the time the first dem pols are up against the wall it might already be too late. Which is why I asked where someone should've stepped in with Hitler-- I don't know history well enough to draw enough parallels to make an educated guess, but things look a little bleak the way it's going.
Political violence cuts both ways. I don't think anyone thinks what happens to politicians go against the cartels in Mexico is good or healthy system. For democracy to work we can't have people constantly fear for their lives. Sure Trump is a terrible human being but I don't want my candidates living with the same fear. So our only choice is to condem it. Also when bad acting becomes the norm bad actors will thrive. If political assassinations becomes the norm do you think morally justified "good guys" assassin going after Hitlers are going to win/out pace organized crime like what we see in Mexico?
At the end of the day ends don't justify the means. Violence breeds Violence. In this modern age if we want to create a peaceful society we have to do it peacefully. Violence might be an appealing means to an end and while we might have the moral high ground but they use the same logic to justify their violence.
It never the answer to advocate for it in a non-political venue where you're part of a group that can associated with your comment without their consent. He torpedoed their careers as a band.
I hate Trump, but I don't want him to be made a martyr and I'd be pissed off if I was Jack Black and this guy fucked up our public performances without my knowing about it first.
He torpedoed their careers as a band.
Did he though? I can't imagine KG's sentiment is an unusual one except among the MAGA cult and milquetoast centrists, and even then only the cultists could probably maintain a sustained boycott (although even then I don't think things have been going too poorly for Bud Light lately).
I'm not sure I buy the trump as martyr either. No one has quite been able to replicate his "charm" among the faithful, so with him gone are centrists going to be more swayed? I'm not convinced.
When is it okay if it's against whichever politicians you like?
I don't understand why people tend to forget that opinions vary. There literally cannot be a moment where everyone agrees someone can only be stopped by violence. Don't worry though, sadly like 95% of Lemmy has been proud of this bloodlust the past few days. Your opinion is popular.
I guess trump is the only one allowed to make disrespectful comments about other people that almost die and it is just ok.
No, it's not okay. Two wrongs don't make a right. Criticizing the language Trump uses but then praising Kyle would be hypocrisy.
I don't think he's saying either are okay, just pointing out the double standard. That's how I read it anyway.
Who the FUCK is downvoting this
Dragging the whole US down into a landscape where political assassination is acceptable is exactly the right’s goal. As soon as it’s normalized even a little bit, that little tail which currently has a handful of right-wing nuts with pipe bombs and hammers who is actually acting on it is gonna grow to encompass a huge, MASSIVE number of Facebook uncles
And then I can guarantee that all the people who are celebrating this will no longer be celebrating
I don't think the comment was appropriate but I also don't think it was really necessary to cancel the tour over it. It was a joke made in poor taste. Worth an apology? Sure. But this seems like an overreaction.
It's worth a super sarcastic apology.
The fact they cancelled the tour and that he split with his manager, makes me believe it wasn't that harmonic anymore and it was the final straw.
If not, I agree it was a massive overreaction.
Inciting violence is not appropriate, but he could've easily just said he should've kept it to himself and move on.
Maybe he feels he can't be a showman and be all fun when democracy is at stake.
It's noteworthy that it doesn't appear black canceled the tour just out of nowhere. I think they were getting pressure from the government based on what I've read.
People keep acting like Jack Black is punishing Kyle for being offensive, rather than trying to avoid a mass shooting at a Tenacious D concert after his bandmate endorsed political violence.
It's only in overreaction if you're not worried about your life, or the lives of your fans.
I find the outrage hilarious considering the rhetoric that comes out of trumps mouth.
Agreed, kind of a dumb comment to make in front of a large crowd. But the reaction is way overblown.
If comedians are becoming afraid then you know something is very wrong.
Daily Show and now these guys canceled events. This is not good.
I guess because...uh...I don't know, other then black just wanting out of the band, this doesn't make a lot of sense.
He said he was "blindsided" by the comment.
Blindsided? Aren't they friends?
Blindsided? By a sentiment I imagine people had been making jokes about since it happened?
Blindsided because he didn't think Kyle would say something that could legitimately hurt JB's image and thus the rest of his career, which is clearly the priority over Tenacious D.
Right, although he explicitly talks about being blindsided by the politically violent nature of the comment, it sounds disingenuous
Tenacious D has a 9-minute song on their first album about comedically overthrowing the government where the ultimate joke is that they assassinate each other simultaneously
Huge overreaction by Jack Black.
Watching Lewis Spears' (an Australian comedian) take on it, it's likely that the venues cancelled the events, and this is the PR reason.
"We are quitting because you appeared to mouth certain words"
Yeah, massive over reaction. Also explains why there's no footage/audio of the incident.
Today we are all Kyle Gass fans
When push comes to shove Jack Black folds. Sad to see.
What a Disney bitch
Damnit. Jack Black is one of those people I never expected to lose any respect for.
Last week Kyle quit the band Now we're back together Misunderstanding Didn't understand It doesn't matter Now we're back together again
I so want this to be an epic version of that song.
I like how they managed to shoehorn Musk in there. Thanks BBC, very, uh, relevant.
Journalism has devolved into buzzword salad. Facts optional
they followed up the way they were "supposed to," but they know low key everyone's even more of a fan now
If they can say the quiet part out loud, why can’t we?
Because everyone outside of the right thinks you have to uphold decorum while they burn shit down around our ears.
You’re not wrong, but not normalizing political assassinations is about quite a bit more than “decorum”
This is like saying “well this guy is doing date rapes so I don’t see why I can’t joke about raping his sister”
The answer is 0 assassinations. The answer is the rule of law. I actually 100% agree with you that most of the political left has its head in the sand about the urgency of coming to grips with what the right wants to do and stopping it, but “let’s go ahead and have the civil war then, what’s the worst that could ensue” is about the worst possible take and strategy that you could employ in response
Because of mods. Most other communities on Lemmy will let you crack jokes like that. There are two specific mods who just perm ban anyone saying that about Trump, but not about Biden
I would be extremely surprised if joking about assassinating Biden was kosher with any of the mods
The Kyle Gass project is outta control!
Never thought I'd see the day where, when it comes down to it, JaBles shows he has no spine and folds like the cheap suit his character wore in school of rock.
The Ballad of Hollywood Jack and the Rage Kage.
The Ballad of the Rocker Who Rocks and Whiny Jack
he didn't cancel the tour - they did. Kyle Gass is as much a member of the band as Jack Black is
Jack Black sure makes it sound one-sided.
You're right about that - he doesn't say 'we' once in that statement
normally, people dismiss Gass a lot when talking about Tenacious D, but that statement really seems like it was only Jack's decision
thanks for telling me
Looks like jack used it as an excuse. Of course since he does live in the fluffy clouds of stardom he might really be that pretentious.
Might also be because a senator for the local dumb dumb party wanted to kick them out. Australian officials kinda love doing that as publicity. Freaking out on American celebrities is a political game, ever since someone did it to Johnny Depp and Amber Herd... And their dogs... And private jet that didn't bother with docking at customs.
Wasn't their a Simpsons episode about something like that
Since when has Jack Black have a problem with political violence? Brought to you by City Hall
Cowardly nepo baby isn't tenacious, absolute shocker.
I understand Jack here.
I wouldn't want to share a stage with someone actively encouraging the assassination of a political figure - even if I agree with the sentiment...
I talk to my friends about wishing he was gone but I don't want to be around him if he's shouting about it at work, either.
I don't let my kids get away with "He did it first!"
We want change? We want to see more rational and measured speech in the public forum? We want good to win over evil?
Then sure, we fight evil. But we keep our character. If we don't, then what's the difference if they win or we do?
I do not condemn people who celebrate murderers and rapists getting the death penalty. And I even feel the same way myself, although I don't support the death penalty.
I refuse to condemn people who want him gone, even though I don't want a system that allows it.
Right??
They go low, we go high!!! (and then we die)
this comment needs to be higher. it's amazing how little self-awareness people have when they show astonishment that only Trump can act like Trump.
well, duh, that's why he's a dickhead. wishing him harm only makes one another bird of the same feather.
Can I wish, like Douglas Adams said of the second-worst poet in the universe:
his own major intestine, in a desperate attempt to save humanity, leapt straight up through his neck and throttled his brain