Jack Black's bandmate apologizes for saying 'don't miss Trump next time' after attempted assassination



Jack Black's bandmate in comic rock outfit Tenacious D apologized Tuesday for saying "don't miss Trump next time" during a weekend concert in Australia following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.

After a tidal wave of backlash, Black took to Instagram Tuesday morning, said he was "blindsided" by the words of his bandmate Kyle Gass, and canceled the Tenacious D tour while noting that "all future creative plans are on hold."

'What happened was a tragedy, and I’m incredibly sorry for my severe lack of judgement.'

"I would never condone hate speech or encourage political violence in any form," Black added in his statement.

Gass added his own mea culpa Tuesday on Instagram:

“The line I improvised onstage Sunday night in Sydney was highly inappropriate, dangerous and a terrible mistake,” Gass said in his statement. “I don’t condone violence of any kind, in any form, against anyone. What happened was a tragedy, and I’m incredibly sorry for my severe lack of judgement. I profoundly apologize to those I’ve let down and truly regret any pain I’ve caused.”

What's more, Variety added that the Greene Talent agency dropped Gass.

What's the background?

During the Tenacious D concert in question, video shows Black singing "Happy Birthday" to Gass onstage as a birthday cake is presented to him. Black then tells Gass to "make a wish."

With that, Black's bandmate waits a few seconds and says, "Don’t miss Trump next time," before blowing out the candles. Black replies, "Thank you!"

It sounds on one clip as though the audience's reaction was mostly laughter and applause. Yahoo News said one crowd member remarked, “You could hear a couple of ‘oohhs’ — like 'too soon' sort of vibes — but the vast majority was laughter." The outlet added that numerous fans praised Gass’ comment, while others criticized the "bad joke."

However, comments under the previously noted video — which was posted to X — seemed decidedly negative:

  • "Wow f*** those guys," one commenter stated.
  • "That's disgusting @jackblack you support assassination attempts?" another user asked.
  • "You know, I didn't care when Jack Black endorsed Biden. He can have that opinion. This is too far though. I hope he apologizes," another commenter wrote.
  • "They say Trump is bad, but these are the real evil people," another user opined.

Even an Australian senator demanded the deportation of Tenacious D, according to Deadline.

Deadline also said Black's band had another week of concerts in Australia and was scheduled to venture to New Zealand as well.

Tenacious D also was to embark on a U.S. tour in October, Deadline said. According to Variety, Tenacious D was scheduled to play a series of October concerts to support Rock the Vote, the "nonpartisan nonprofit organization that encourages young people to vote."

Deadline also said Black is a vocal supporter of Democrats and last month endorsed President Joe Biden.

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Cop writes, 'D**n. Only about an inch away from making America great again ...' after failed Trump assassination. Bad idea.



After the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump over the weekend, a North Carolina police officer hopped on Facebook and wrote, "Damn. Only about an inch away from making America great again…” WNCN-TV reported.

As you might imagine, the post proved a costly miscalculation.

'My attempt at dark humor was completely out of line and in poor taste.'

Detective Sgt. Brandon Richardson — a 24-year veteran of the Tarboro Police Department — is now on on administrative leave pending an internal investigation, WNCN reported. Tarboro is a town of just over 11,000 residents and sits a little over an hour east of Raleigh.

The police department in a Facebook post of its own Monday said it "is aware of an inappropriate social media post made by one of our officers. We take this matter very seriously, as it does not reflect the values and standards of our department."

The department's message added that after they caught wind of the post, officials took "immediate steps to address the situation: An internal investigation has been launched to determine the context and details surrounding the post. The officer involved has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of this investigation. We are reviewing our social media policies to ensure they align with best practices and clearly communicate our expectations."

WNCN reported that Richardson issued an apology on his Facebook page that appears to have been taken down. The station reported that his post read in part, “My attempt at dark humor was completely out of line and in poor taste. I realize now that my words were not only inappropriate but also deeply offensive to many of you. For that, I am truly sorry.”

Richardson's post added that he takes full responsibility, WNCN noted, adding that he made an appeal to “keep Mr. Trump and his family in our thoughts as he heals from this physical and mental wound.”

WNCN reported that Richardson joined the Tarboro Police Department as a patrol officer in 2000 before being promoted to detective with the department’s investigation division in May 2014.

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College paints over anti-Semitic messages on walls; protesting students stand in way — and get themselves some primer



Case Western Reserve University ordered anti-Semitic messages on a pair of walls at the Cleveland college painted over this week — and video caught the moment when pro-Palestinian students standing in front of one wall got hit with spray paint themselves.

What are the details?

University President Eric Kaler on Monday said pro-Palestinian protesters painted an advocacy wall near Eldred Hall with threatening and anti-Semitic language and later painted the Spirit Wall near Thwing Center with intimidating language, WJW-TV reported.

"The lengths this university goes to defend Zionist Genocidal interests is insane."

Kaler said in an email that the messaging on the walls was “threatening, intimidating, and anti-Semitic,” Cleveland.com reported, adding that the college hired contractors to paint over the walls early Tuesday morning.

Well, some pro-Palestinian students weren't having it and stood in front of one of the walls, presumably believing the contractors would spray-paint around them.

Uh, not so much.

Here's how Case Western's chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine described the scene:

"The lengths this university goes to defend Zionist Genocidal interests is insane," the SJP post on Instagram reads.

Cleveland.com reported that 18-year-old Ameer Alkayali is seen in the video being spray-painted. A Palestinian-American who just finished his freshman year at the University of Cincinnati, Alkayali has been protesting with Case Western students since the first day of their encampment last week, the outlet said.

“I stood against the wall, and the painters asked, ‘Should we continue?’ The cops showed general confusion and didn’t tell them to stop,” Alkayali told Cleveland.com. “So, as seen in the video, they continue to just paint right over us. They told us to not put our hands in front of the machine because it’s dangerous. And we put our hands up, and they still continued to paint on our hands and sprayed us with it?”

Alkayali told the outlet he's planning legal action against Case Western and its public safety department: “We were coughing, and it didn’t come out of my skin for hours. Like it’s still in my hair. I can see it under my nails, and there was no sort of medical or any assistance with the situation after from Case or local police.”

'I am disturbed by what occurred'

Kaler in a Wednesday morning statement said he was “deeply sorry” about the students’ treatment, WJW reported, adding that the school president's statement reads, in part:

I have reviewed video footage, which depicts students blocking the wall as a third-party contractor spray painted directly onto protesters as he attempted to finish painting the wall, and I am disturbed by what occurred.

Let me be clear: No students — or any individuals — should ever be treated this way, especially on a campus where our core values center on providing a safe, welcoming environment. This is not who we are as an institution, and I am deeply sorry this ever occurred.

The university will continue to fully investigate these actions and hold individuals responsible for this behavior, including the failure of our own officers to intervene.

Again, I want to reiterate my sincere regret for this incident. As with any violation of our codes of conduct, we will take action to hold them accountable.

Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb and Police Chief Annie Todd issued a joint statement on Wednesday that suggests protesters faced “criminal interference” with their First Amendment rights, WJW also said, adding that their statement reads, in part:

Cleveland is a city for everyone, and we must respect the thoughts, feelings, and voices of those who come from various backgrounds. These diverse perspectives are what makes us special, and ultimately stronger, as a city. Our community deserves venues where they have the ability to constitutionally express their opinions openly without fear of criminal interference.

We support 1st Amendment rights and implore CWRU leadership to consider this and think about how the decisions they make and the actions they take — especially against those who are abiding by the law — will influence some of the progress we have collectively made as a city. At the same time, we urge individuals to demonstrate peacefully.

Anything else?

Cleveland.com reported that the Spirit Wall was painted again Tuesday night — but with a pro-Israel message: “They call for intifada so we call them terrorists.”

Protesters spray painted by contractors at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland youtu.be

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Gay bar halts Palestinian burlesque dancer's show over her sign 'targeting' Jews — then apologizes after drag backlash



A Philadelphia gay bar banned a Palestinian burlesque dancer from taking the stage because of her sign "targeting" Jews — but following fierce drag community backlash, the bar apologized.

What are the details?

A Dec. 8 show at Tabu Lounge and Sports Bar in the city's so-called Gayborhood advertised Palestinian burlesque dancer Leila Delicious as one of the featured acts, but the bar stopped her performance, which would have used a sign that read, "OUR GENERATION WILL FREE PALESTINE," PhillyVoice reported.

An X post from performer Mew Ikki indicated Tabu had told Delicious that the bar didn't want political commentary or performances about the Israel-Hamas war, the outlet said.

The next day Tabu released a now-deleted statement on social media saying the bar "strongly condemns all forms of hate speech, including the recent display of a sign promoting genocide against Jews," PhillyVoice said, adding that the bar said an image of Delicious' sign making the rounds lacked "full context" since it showed only showed one side — and that the other side "contains text targeting the Jewish community."

The text on the other side of the sign read, "BIDEN, DEMAND A CEASEFIRE / IF YOU SUPPORT GENOCIDE, You ISREAL DUMB!"

— (@)

What happened next?

PhillyVoice said many in the city's drag and burlesque community blasted Tabu on social media, challenged the bar's claim that the other side of the sign was anti-Semitic, and rose up in solidarity with Delicious, saying they wouldn't perform at Tabu or attend shows there.

With that, Tabu deleted its original statement condemning Delicious and posted a longer statement Sunday afternoon, the outlet reported: "While our initial decision to prevent a performer from addressing the Israel-Palestine conflict was made with the intention of fostering a positive environment, we now recognize that it had unintended consequences."

The statement from the bar — which PhillyVoice said didn't immediately respond to requests for comment — added that the original move was meant to ensure "emotional safety" for everyone in the venue and that Tabu "may have misinterpreted the intention" of the sign, which did not promote genocide against Jewish people.

The statement also included an apology to Delicious, who was not directly named in the text, and added that Tabu management will reach out to her for an "open conversation," the outlet noted.

Not enough, apparently

In a follow-up story, PhillyVoice said nearly 70 performers and producers signed a letter expressing solidarity with Delicious and demanding more action from Tabu's ownership.

The outlet said attorney Amer Zahr, who's also president of New Generation for Palestine, shared the letter with PhillyVoice, adding that the letter says Tabu's statement placed Delicious "at considerable physical risk," citing recent anti-Palestinian hate crimes, and lists two demands: a commitment to "freedom of expression and speech" with concrete guidelines on what is allowed and an apology to Delicious that retracts the accusation of "promoting genocide."

“I am simply calling for justice, dignity, and respect. I never thought that calling for an end to genocide would end up in an accusation of genocide against me," Delicious said in a statement included in Zahr's email, the outlet added. "Sadly, the environment we are in seeks to silence Palestinian voices. As a Palestinian, I refuse to be silent."

PhillyVoice said the letter's signees indicated they won't perform or work at Tabu until management meets the letter's demands.

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Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman apologizes for his word choice after saying Trump must 'be eliminated'



Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman of New York issued an apology after saying that former President Donald Trump must "be eliminated."

Goldman had made the comment while speaking to former White House press secretary Jen Psaki. The congressman said it is "unquestionable" that Trump "cannot see public office again." He described the former president as "unfit" and "destructive to our democracy" before adding, "He has to be eliminated."

— (@)

Goldman later apologized for his word choice.

"Yesterday on TV, I mistakenly used the wrong word to express the importance for America that Donald Trump doesn't become President again. While he must be defeated, I certainly wish no harm to him and do not condone political violence. I apologize for the poor choice of words," he noted in a post on X.

— (@)

Last week, Goldman's Brooklyn office was vandalized with graffiti messages, including one which read, "LET GAZA LIVE."

The lawmaker, who is Jewish, was in Israel at the time of the horrific Hamas terror attacks in October but was able to safely return to the U.S. with his family.

"Congressman Goldman, his wife, and three youngest children were in Israel for a family Bar Mitzvah when Hamas brutally attacked Israel on Shabbat and Simchat Torah, one of the holiest Jewish holidays," spokesperson Simone Kanter noted in a statement issued last month. "Congressman Goldman and his family sheltered from Hamas rocket fire in their hotel's interior stairwell until early Sunday morning, when they were able to safely depart for New York."

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Sucker-puncher, 19, says he clobbered unsuspecting victims on video for social media likes, claims 'all you see is the bad part about it'



A 19-year-old sucker-puncher admitted to KHOU-TV that he clobbered unsuspecting victims at a Houston park while being recorded on video just to get likes and views on YouTube and TikTok.

Oh, and Alford Lewis added to the station that while he regrets his violent actions, he "just made a mistake, and everybody makes mistakes" and "from the video all you see is the bad part about it."

What are the details?

The disturbing video shot at Wortham Park showed a male dressed in a red hoodie with the name "Spartans" on the front randomly approaching unsuspecting people from behind and sucker-punching them, KHOU reported, adding that the culprit also tried to tackle a man at the Cypress-area park earlier this week.

The video drew hundreds of comments and sparked concern among nearby residents who also use the park's trail, the station said.

Well, a KHOU reporter caught up with the sucker-puncher, interviewed him about what was going through his mind, and said the sucker-puncher now regrets his violent actions.

"Yes, yes I do," Lewis told the station during an on-camera interview outside his home, not far from the park. "You know, I just made a mistake, and everybody makes mistakes."

Image source: KHOU-TV video screenshot

Lewis also admitted to KHOU that his parents weren't thrilled when they found out about his ill-advised stunt.

But believe it or not, he added to the station that not everything about his exploits was negative.

"I really didn't expect for it to go so left, you know," Lewis noted to KHOU. "I know from the video all you see is the bad part about it. But what people don't see is that I shook his hand after and gave the man a hug." The station said it couldn't verify that part of Lewis' story.

In addition, he noted to KHOU that the outrage over the video of him sucker-punching people made him reconsider his stunt — and he's hopeful that others will learn from his mistake.

"Before you go out and do anything you feel is bad, or that could look bad, make sure, like, people know — or just don't do it at all," Lewis told the station.

Anything else?

The Harris County Sheriff's Office told KHOU that its violent crimes division is investigating the video and that the victims may have to file charges for the case to proceed.

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What Socrates Would Say About Whether To Wear A Mask

Socrates tells the jury that actions born of the fear of death are the most blameworthy, and our world today is in desperate need of that message.

‘Vulgar Term For A Cat’: Megyn Kelly Drags MLB Player After Apology Over LGBT Pride Tweet

'A certain — what’s the word — a vulgar term for a cat comes to mind when I see this behavior'
Anheuser-Busch Can Take Its ‘Apology’ and Shove It | Ep 789
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Anheuser-Busch Can Take Its ‘Apology’ and Shove It | Ep 789

Liberal 'Young Turks' host apologizes for repeatedly amplifying Democratic activist's lies: 'I screwed up royally'



Leftist script-reader Ana Kasparian of "The Young Turks" apologized Wednesday for parroting multiple false claims made by a disgraced critic of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

For having been fooled and in turn fooling her audience for years, Kasparian said, "I should've done my due diligence. I failed to do so. By failing to do so, I feel like I misled the audience into thinking that Rebekah Jones is some sort of hero."

What did she get wrong?

Rebekah Jones, the woman who lost a congressional race in a landslide to Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) last year and who has up until recently enjoyed Kasparian's support, is a former Florida Department of Health data analyst who was fired for insubordination, having intentionally crashed the state's COVID dashboard.

Around the time of her dismissal, Jones accused the DeSantis administration of fudging its coronavirus data — a claim later determined to have been false by Florida Inspector General Michael J. Bennett.

"Based upon an analysis of the available evidence, the alleged conduct, as described by the complainant, did not occur," concluded the inspector's report.

Police later executed a search warrant on Jones' Tallahassee house after a data breach involving the theft of 19,000 employees' personal information was linked to the disgraced former data analyst's home IP address.

The National Review noted that while DeSantis had nothing to do with the warrant or its execution, Jones accused the governor of targeting her with his "gestapo." Furthermore, she suggested that police pointed weapons at her children, which bodycam footage later proved to have also been false.

Despite indications that Jones had a loose relationship with the truth, liberal media outlets, including Kasparian's, continued to give her the benefit of the doubt.

Last week, Jones' 13-year-old son was arrested after allegedly threatening to shoot up his school.

Officials in Santa Rosa county indicated that Jones' son had made threats online in February that he would shoot up Holley Navarre Middle School and stab students who angered him, reported the Pensacola News Journal.

According to investigators, the teen wrote:

  • "I want to shoot up the school";
  • "Okay so it’s been like 3-4 weeks since I got on my new antidepressants and they aren’t working but they’re suppose to by now so I have no hope in getting better so why not kill the losers at school";
  • "I’m getting a wrath and natural selection shirt so maybe but I don’t think many ppl know what the columbine shooters look like"; and
  • "If I get a gun I’m gonna shoot up hnms lol.:
These threats resulted in a digital threats of terrorism charge.
Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Jillian Durkin indicated that following a vacation to Mississippi, Jones turned her son in.

However, Jones later took to Twitter, claiming her son had been "taken on the gov's orders."

"There is no freedom here," wrote Jones. "Only retaliatory rule by a fascist who wishes to be king."

\u201cMy family is not safe. My son has been taken on the gov's orders, and I've had to send my husband and daughter out of state for their safety.\n\nTHIS is the reality of living in DeSantis' Florida.\n\nThere is no freedom here. Only retaliatory rule by a fascist who wishes to be king\u201d
— Rebekah Jones (@Rebekah Jones) 1680741734

Jones insinuated that her son's arrest was politically motivated and that he was targeted because his mother was "a legally-protected whistleblower."

The Democratic activist and failed congressional candidate also accused police of kidnapping her son.

Here is footage allegedly showing Jones waiting with her son at the sheriff's office:

\u201cVideo of the arrest after Rebekah Jones\u2019 son was caught threatening to shoot up a middle school\n\nhttps://t.co/9T6SbspQhQ\u201d
— Facts Nordau (@Facts Nordau) 1680882685

Partisan blindness

Kasparian admitted Wednesday that Jones' latest string of lies gave her pause, prompting her to re-evaluate the other claims she repeated on her show.

Not only did "The Young Turks" host call into doubt Jones' self-description as a whistleblower but the accusations she leveled in 2020 against DeSantis regarding COVID death numbers, the details pertaining to the alleged raid, and the arrest of her son as well.

"Part of the reason why I screwed up is because I had all these biases, of course, against Ron DeSantis," she added. "And I don’t really feel bad about that because I think Ron DeSantis has done some pretty terrible things in the state of Florida, but it becomes a problem when that bias blinds you to what the facts of various stories happen to be."

"We bought this. I bought this. We reported exactly what she said," said Kasparian. "And now I have some degree of regret for doing that."

While admitting some accountability, she suggested the "mainstream media" was especially deserving of blame.

"If they're not doing their due diligence, if they're allowing their personal biases to stand in the way of actual, factual reporting, well, that's unfortunately going to trickle into the way independent news sources cover these stories as well," said Kasparian.

In her apology, Kasparian said, "I want to correct all of those errors that we had previously reported. And I want to be clear that out of everyone who works on the main show, the only person who should be held responsible for that is me. I’m the executive producer of the show and I screwed up royally."

Mediaite reported that Kasparian and "The Young Turks" weren't alone in celebrating Jones and amplifying her lies. MSNBC, CNN, the Washington Post, and the Miami Herald also peddled her narrative.

TYT Correction: Update on Rebekah Jones Story youtu.be

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