In a explosive new interview released today, journalist Andrew Callaghan dropped a bombshell allegation: Hollywood heavyweight George Clooney allegedly “forced” actor Jack Black to break up his comedy rock band Tenacious D following a controversial onstage comment about the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump. This caused Hunter Biden, the son of former President Joe Biden, to go off in a profanity-laden tirade against the actor who once called for his father to drop out of the presidential race.
Tenacious D in a video on Youtube – YouTube, Tenacious D
The claim, made during a lengthy sit-down with Hunter Biden—the controversial son of former President Joe Biden—has reignited debates about political influence in entertainment and drawn a fiery response from Hunter himself, who didn’t hold back in slamming Clooney as a “brand” rather than an actor.
The story traces back to July 14, 2024, when Tenacious D—comprised of Jack Black and Kyle Gass—performed at the ICC Sydney Theatre in Australia. The show fell just one day after the shocking attempt on Trump’s life at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a bullet grazed the president’s ear, allegedly fired by Thomas Matthew Crooks. During the concert, which doubled as a celebration for Gass’s 64th birthday, Black brought out a cake and prompted Gass to “make a wish.”
Tenacious D in a video on Youtube – YouTube, Tenacious D
Gass quipped, “Don’t miss Trump next time”—a remark that quickly went viral and sparked widespread backlash for appearing to endorse the attempt on the president’s life.
In the aftermath, Black issued a statement on July 16, 2024, distancing himself from the comment.
“I was blindsided by what was said at the show on Sunday,” he said, rejecting and condemning the heinous actions against Trump at that rally. “After much reflection, 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.”
Tenacious D in a video on Youtube – YouTube, Tenacious D
The duo canceled their remaining tour dates in Australia and New Zealand, effectively putting the band on indefinite hiatus. Gass later apologized, calling his words “highly inappropriate, dangerous and a terrible mistake.”
The Allegation: Clooney’s Alleged Influence
Fast-forward to July 21, 2025, and Callaghan’s interview with Hunter Biden has thrust the incident back into the spotlight with fresh drama.
Callaghan, who claims to be longtime friends with Black—they were once neighbors in Los Angeles—recounted the alleged behind-the-scenes pressure.
Actor George Clooney sits for an interview – YouTube, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
“My only really famous Hollywood friend is actor Jack Black, we used to be neighbors in [Los Angeles]. Tenacious D did a concert in Sydney Australia, and, this is the day after they tried to assassinate Trump, and I guess Jack Black’s guitarist or whatever jumps up on stage, and he yells something into the effect of ‘Hey, next time you try to shoot Trump, aim a little bit closer,’” Callaghan said, slightly misquoting Gass’s actual words.
Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention 2024 via New York Post YouTube
He continued: “George Clooney is blowing his phone up, being like, ‘If you don’t kick your bandmember out of the band and, like, publicly denounce this guy — like I don’t know what the consequences were, but it was kind of like, “You’re out!’ Out of what, we don’t know. And so his hand was basically forced to be like, ‘Oh, sorry, my bandmember has serious mental-health problems. We’re breaking up the band for now. The tour is canceled.’”
Callaghan’s allegation suggests Clooney wielded significant influence over Hollywood, potentially threatening Black’s standing in tinsel town if he didn’t act swiftly. However, the claim remains unverified, with representatives for both Clooney and Black not responding to requests for comment. Skeptics have pointed out inconsistencies, such as Callaghan’s misquote, and questioned why Clooney—a vocal Democrat and activist—would intervene so aggressively.
Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention 2024 via New York Post YouTube
It’s possible, though entirely speculative, that Clooney’s alleged reaction was intended to counter any potential boost in Trump’s popularity stemming from backlash to Gass’s comment.
The assassination attempt on Trump, which occurred on July 13, 2024, came just days after Clooney’s July 10, 2024, New York Times op-ed urging President Joe Biden to withdraw from the race.
Hunter Biden’s Explosive Reaction
Hunter Biden’s reaction to the story was visceral and unfiltered. Upon hearing the details, he erupted. His comments can be viewed in the player below, but be warned that there is strong language.
Hunter Biden just went off on the Democratic Party:
“Fuck him and everybody around him… George Clooney is not a fucking an actor. He’s a brand.”
“James Carville hasn’t won a race in 40 fucking years.”
“David Axelrod had one success in his political life and that was Barack… pic.twitter.com/Cdk9t29gwZ
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) July 21, 2025
“F*** him!” the former first son exclaimed. “F*** him and everybody around him! I don’t have to be f***ing nice! Number one. I agree with Quentin Tarantino. F***ing George Clooney is not a f***ing actor. He is a f***ing, like, I don’t know what he is. He’s a brand.” Biden went on to criticize Clooney’s close ties to former President Barack Obama, calling him “great friends with Barack Obama” and accusing Obama-era figures like David Axelrod, the Pod Save America hosts (whom he dismissed as “junior Obama speechwriters”), and Anita Dunn of profiting off the “Obama brand.”
Despite the rant, Biden offered a begrudging olive branch.
“And by the way and God bless him, you know what?” he added. “He supposedly treats his friends really well, he buys them things and he’s got a really great place in Lake Como.”
Hunter Biden sits for an interview – YouTube, Channel 5 Clips
The interview, which clocks in at over two and a half hours, touches on broader topics including Hunter’s struggles with addiction (“alcohol is the most destructive drug… and then you add on top of that the amount of crack that I was using”), the infamous laptop scandal (“What does my laptop prove about criminality or anything?”), and Clooney’s July 2024 New York Times op-ed urging President Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race due to age concerns.
Biden tied Clooney’s op-ed to personal motives, claiming it stemmed from anger over the Biden administration’s criticism of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—a case advised on by Clooney’s wife, Amal Clooney. Callaghan also referenced an unverified claim that Amal was behind a full-page ad supporting the warrant, adding another layer of intrigue.
This revelation comes amid ongoing scrutiny of celebrity involvement in politics. Clooney, a prominent fundraiser for Democrats, hosted a high-profile event for Joe Biden in June 2024 alongside stars like Julia Roberts and Jimmy Kimmel. His op-ed last year was seen as a catalyst in Biden’s decision to step aside, paving the way for Vice President Kamala Harris’s nomination and her ultimately unsuccessful bid for the White House.
Looking Ahead
As of now, neither George Clooney nor Jack Black has addressed the allegations publicly. Tenacious D remains on hiatus, with Black hinting in an August 2024 interview that a reunion could happen “when it feels right.” Or perhaps when George Clooney gives him permission, if these rumors are true?
Actor George Clooney sits for an interview – YouTube, Late Night With Seth Meyers
Whether this new claim prompts any response—or further fallout—remains to be seen, but it underscores the fraught intersection of fame, politics, and free speech in today’s entertainment landscape.
Do you believe George Clooney forced the break up of Tenacious D? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
