Despite the anticipation surrounding Jack Black’s latest cinematic venture, ‘Borderlands’, performance during the opening weekend was disappointingly subpar. Unveiled to the public on a recent Friday, the film had only managed to rake in a significantly low figure of $8.8 million by the following Monday. This puts the project’s success in serious jeopardy, considering it was bankrolled on a rather princely budget of $115 million.
On the stage of public opinion, ‘Borderlands’ has failed to garner critical acclaim, scraping together a mere 10% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Furthermore, viewers’ rating on CinemaScore has been equally unsparing, with the film clinching a ‘D+’. This lukewarm reception may come as a surprise, given the stellar cast that has joined Black in the project.
Indeed, ‘Borderlands’ features a host of acclaimed actors, such as the comedic talent Kevin Hart, the Oscar-winning Cate Blanchett, and the eminent Jamie Lee Curtis. Set in a fictitious universe inspired by a globally popular video game, the film’s plot centers around an unlikely group tasked with a pivotal mission: the rescue of a missing girl possessing a potentially world-altering power.
In the midst of this professional disappointment, a controversy in Black’s personal life further soured the movie’s reception. A regrettable incident involving an attempt on former President Trump’s life was explicitly referred to by his friend and Tenacious D bandmate, Gass. The subsequent comments proved deeply inappropriate and were widely seen as condoning violence, causing a swift backlash against both of them.
The ill-fated comment made by Gass involved a deplorable act of violence which had injured Trump and claimed the life of one his supporters whilst injuring two others. Offering a formal statement of apology, Gass publicly admitted, ‘Sunday’s highly inappropriate comment made onstage in Sydney was both dangerous and a terrible mistake.’ He further clarified his stance, denouncing violence categorically.
The regrettable incident and the ensuing comments snowballed into a public outcry against Gass and Black. Gass was quick to express remorse for his comments, publicly apologizing for his severe lack of judgement in an official statement. He went on record to underline his conviction, stating he does not condone violence of any nature or form against any individual.
Black too found himself at the receiving end of the public backlash. The star of the memorable ‘School of Rock’ quickly issued an apology for the comments made by his friend and bandmate. Black insisted that he was taken aback by Gass’s statement, which took him completely by surprise.
Black also conveyed his commitment to upholding a culture of respect and responsibility in his public interactions. ‘I would never condone hate speech or encourage political violence in any form,’ he stated, emphasising his commitment to non-violence at both personal and public levels.
Reflecting on the series of unfortunate events, Black made the decision to put a pause on the Tenacious D tour and all future creative plans. He graciously thanked his fans for their understanding and support during this challenging period.
The controversy ended up with professional ramifications for Gass. His talent agency, Greene Talent, publicly declared they were parting ways with Gass. This decision underscores the agency’s commitment to high standards of conduct among their roster of talents.
However, Black has not publicly addressed any future collaborations with Gass, neither confirming nor denying any future plans. It leaves the future of the comedic band Tenacious D in uncertain waters.
The impact of this event, combined with the underwhelming performance of ‘Borderlands’ at the box office, certainly appears to be a setback for Black. Although the actor is known for his resilience, it remains to be seen how these setbacks will affect his future projects.
In the world of entertainment, stars often face public and critical backlash, and this incident reminds us of the importance of mindful communication. While both parties have offered sincere apologies, only time will tell how this controversy influences their public images and careers in the long term.
Finally, as with all events in the volatile world of showbiz, the incident serves as another reminder of the necessity of considering the wider implications before making public remarks. As Black and Gass have found out, it’s a small world after all, and words matter more than ever.