I took a while to research this story before awarding Black, an actor/comic/ musician with a reputation for being a genuinely good guy, an EA Ethics Hero designation. After checking various sources, I am now persuaded that he deserves it.
Black has apparently made enough money as a movie actor that, like Kevin Bacon, Gwyneth Paltrow and a few others, he can indulge his musical inclinations and modest talents and get people to pay to see him performing with a band. That would be Tenacious D, a comedy-rock duo Jack Black shares with Kyle Gass. Tenacious D was in Sydney as part of a tour, and Black brought out a cake at the ICC Sydney Theater on Sunday to celebrate Gass’s 64th birthday. He asked Gass to “make a wish,” and Gass said, “Don’t miss Trump next time!”
The video of the crack went viral. Black, who appeared to laugh at the line (he’s been featured at Biden fundraisers), had a statement posted on social media two days later saying he “was blindsided by what was said at the show,” and that he “would never condone hate speech or encourage political violence in any form.”
“After much reflection,” the message continued, “I no longer feel it is appropriate to continue the Tenacious D tour, and all future creative plans are on hold. I am grateful to the fans for their support and understanding.” For his part, Gass posted an apology to social media the same day, stating that “the line I improvised onstage Sunday night in Sydney was highly inappropriate, dangerous and a terrible mistake. I don’t condone violence of any kind, in any form, against anyone” He continued, “What happened was a tragedy, and I’m incredibly sorry for my severe lack of judgment. I profoundly apologize to those I’ve let down and truly regret any pain I’ve caused.”
Also on the same day, Gass’s talent agency dropped him as a client.
My hesitation in making Black an Ethics Hero was the time line, the laugh, and the fact that an Australia politician had called for Tenacious D to be kicked out of the country. (They don’t appreciate free speech in Australia.) Was Black just making a business decision to react to his band-mate’s joke this way, or was he genuinely appalled by it and reacting appropriately? I’m sure there are mixed motives here, but both Black’s and Kass’s statements seem sincere to me. They deserve the benefit of the doubt. Furthermore, cancelling the tour is a genuine self-rebuke. I would have thought an apology alone would have sufficed. Black, who is the headliner in the band, is literally putting his money where his mouth is, as the saying goes.
About the laugh: I think reading malice or callousness into that is unwarranted. Black was surprised by the line, and laughter is often triggered by surprise at inappropriate remarks. As I have noted here before as a speaker and performer who improvises in front of audiences, I am reflexively sympathetic to those in a similar position who hear things coming out of their mouths that they instantly regret. It isn’t as if Kass or Black took the time to prepare a bloody prop Trump head and pose for a photograph while holding it.
Ethics Alarms 
Where HAVE you gone, Kathy Griffin?
I’m skeptical that the line was ad libbed.
It wasn’t clever enough to be planned.
Yes, I’m prepared to accept both Black’s and Gass’ apology and put it down to foot-in-mouth disease; even though my confirmation bias leads me to think they both meant it. I’m not a huge fan of Black, although he is obviously intelligent (thank you mum) and a good actor. Just stuff he’s said/supported before hasn’t endeared him to me.
Gass; never heard of him before.
Re: “They don’t appreciate free speech in Australia.”
Well, yes we do; but our current Labor (think Democrat) Federal Government doesn’t, and has appointed a former twitter employee (did she jump or was she pushed?) as head of their new Wrongspeak department!
They haven’ been in POWEEER one full term yet and are only popular with their rusted on mates. I think every Labor member of parliament is either a former Union official or a former Parliamentary staffer; but I’m prepared to take a fact check on that. Perhaps some activists thrown in.
Unlike the USA, our voting system is national, and pretty tight; but I’ll still be a bit surprised if they get rolled at the next election. They run most of the same PR cons as the Democrats.
However; If someone visiting our country makes a statement like Gass, they are obliged to at least provide some token pushback; even if they agree with the sentiment.
I agree with your points. Black, a very talented comedic actor, is no musical slouch. He is a good guitarist and his voice is incredible.
I will give them the benefit of the doubt and take their apologies are sincere, rating it hugh on Jack’s Apology Scale. They have been largely apolitical though Black recently endorsed Biden. I accept their statements and forgive them.
jvb
“They have been largely apolitical though Black recently endorsed Biden.”
Some of Jack Black’s friends/acquaintances have been overheard casually mentioning that his endorsement is primarily because he’s a vegetarian.
Relax, I’m just the messenger…🤠
Maybe but I still like him. Tenacious D is fun to watch. “The Pick of Destiny” is terrific.
jvb
How can anyone not like Jack Black (miscast though he was in “King Kong”)?
You mean King Kong? I thought he was great in that!
He was a hoot, as was (IMO) Steve Martin, in The Big Year
PWS
I may have a weird sense of humor, but I think that quip was worth a chuckle. In a saner environment no one would have taken it seriously, the guy would apologize and it would be over. But the left has ensured we are no longer in a sane environment.
I have been thinking about the reactions of the left to Trump’s attempted assassination. There are basically 2 responses. Now, virtually 100% of Democrats have stated that Trump is literal Hitler, an existential threat to democracy, and will take away all of our rights. So, how do such people respond to Trump’s shooting?
(1) People who are appalled that such a thing could happen, express gratitude that Trump wasn’t killed and wished him a speedy recovery.
(2) People who are angered that he wasn’t killed.
So, group 1 are liars or cowards. They all claimed he was ‘literal Hitler’ and a person who would end this country as a free nation and turn it into a dictatorship, but they didn’t actually believe it. You don’t send ‘literal Hitler’ a get well card. They were using such lies for political capital and to shout down their opponents. Alternatively, they truly believe all those things about Trump, but they are too cowardly to say it now that it is socially questionable.
Group 2 are honest. They actually believe Trump is the threat that Democrats all claim he is. They are expressing the appropriate response to the attempted killing of a monster. If you believed 50% of what the media and Democratic politicians have said about Trump, you would donate to a statue in honor of Crooks.
The question is: Which group is more ethical? I am not talking about deluded or stupid, I mean ethical. I think it is Group 2. They are expressing an honest and appropriate opinion based on what they have been led to believe. Is what they believe a lie and dangerous? Yes, but they have been told these dangerous lies by all the authorities in our culture (Hollywood, the news, the Democratic authorities, all the leading social media sites, and the education establishment). You can’t blame the normies who only watch CBS News and live in Democratic Party-dominated areas for believing this. Will such opinions lead to political violence? Yes, and they already have. However, political violence is not all unethical. We celebrated a rather extreme form on July 4.