Australian federal senator Ralph Babet has called for the deportation of Tenacious D following contentious remarks made by the duo about an assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump.
During a concert in Sydney on July 14, Jack Black sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to his bandmate Kyle Gass.
When Black asked Gass to make a wish, Gass provocatively stated, “Don’t miss Trump next time,” referring to the recent failed assassination attempt at a Trump rally.
The shot resulted in a bullet grazing Trump’s ear and the death of a rally attendee.
The comment initially met with a laugh at the concert and flared considerable backlash once it circulated on social media.
Critics criticised the duo for seemingly advocating violence against another person.
An online video caught the moment, showing Black offering Gass a birthday cake and prodding him to make a wish.
Gass’s response, “Don’t miss Trump next time,” was swiftly condemned by many online users, voicing outrage and calling for accountability.
On July 16, Senator Ralph Babet formally called for the immediate expulsion of Tenacious D from Australia.
In his letter, Babet declared that the band should be deported for endorsing political violence during their Sydney show.
He expressed the wish for Trump’s assassination as “egregious, disgusting, filthy, evil, and unacceptable in any form.”
When he made the statement, Babet insisted Gass was serious, not joking.
Senator Babet further argued that Australia has no place for those who wish harm upon others.
He stressed that anything less than deportation would be equivalent to seconding the assassination attempt on Trump.
Babet insisted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese denounce Tenacious D and revoke their visas.
He underscored the inconsistency by comparing this situation to the deportation of tennis star Novak Djokovic, who was expelled for allegedly undermining public trust in vaccination.
Babet argued that letting Tenacious D remain in Australia after their remarks would demonstrate weakness in leadership.
The assassination attempt on Trump drew widespread reactions from the entertainment industry.
Figures like 50 Cent, MIA, Kid Rock, and Freddie Gibbs shared their thoughts.
Fans of Lana Del Rey circulated memes online, reflecting the mixed reactions and the pervasive impact of the incident.
Trump himself gave a statement following the shooting, assuring the public he was unharmed and extending condolences to the family of the deceased rally attendee and the injured.
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Details of the assassination attempt
The small suburb of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, is grappling with the news that a local man, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was identified as the shooter.
The FBI confirmed that Crooks, armed with a semi-automatic AR-15 rifle, fired at Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The attack left one person dead and two others wounded before Crooks was killed by a Secret Service sniper.
Crooks, a 20-year-old kitchen worker, was initially unidentified, but the FBI used DNA and facial recognition technology to confirm his identity.
Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022 and recently completed an engineering science associate degree from the Community College of Allegheny.
Neighbours and colleagues expressed shock, describing him as a quiet individual who had passed background checks and raised no alarms.
Investigators are still probing Crooks’s motives.
He was found with an AR-style rifle purchased by his father and had bought ammunition on the day of the rally.
Reports indicated Crooks wore a T-shirt from Demolition Ranch, a popular YouTube channel focused on guns and demolition content.
Suspicious devices were discovered in Crooks’s vehicle, prompting bomb technicians to secure and investigate them.
Law enforcement officials revealed that Crooks had equipment capable of initiating these devices.
However, the whole nature of his plans remains to be seen.
Authorities are conducting an extensive investigation into Crooks’s background and potential motives.
Over 100 interviews have been conducted, and the FBI has accessed his phone and other digital evidence for clues.
Crooks’s father, who called the police after the shooting, is cooperating with the investigation.
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The unfortunate occurrence has disrupted the current election campaign, raising questions about security measures at public rallies and the potential for further violence.
The FBI has promised to work tirelessly to uncover additional information about Crooks’s actions and intentions.
