Jack Black Kicked Out of RNC After Pleading to Share Stage with Kid Rock?
On July 19, 2024, a viral meme circulated on the Facebook page SpaceX Fanclub falsely claiming that actor Jack Black was removed from the 2024 Republican National Convention (RNC) after pleading to perform alongside musician Kid Rock:
Some users in the comments appeared to believe the claim, with one remarking, “Hit the road, Jack Black.” Another expressed disappointment, stating, “I’m soooo disappointed in Jack Black.”
The rumor gained momentum just five days after Black’s Tenacious D bandmate Kyle Gass sparked controversy with comments wishing for someone not to “miss Trump next time,” alluding to the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. Following public backlash, Gass and Black, who had previously raised funds for the now-defunct campaign to reelect President Joe Biden, canceled their world tour.
However, the claim regarding Kid Rock was entirely fictitious. SpaceX Fanclub clarified in its Facebook intro that “nothing on this page is real” and that their content was “satire.”
The meme also featured a “Rated Satire” badge prominently displayed in the top-left corner.
Moreover, the pinned comment under SpaceX Fanclub’s Facebook post linked to an article on esspots.com that read:
Breaking: Jack Black Begged To Be On Stage With Kid Rock At RNC, Was Thrown Out Immediately, “No Wokes Allowed Here”
In a surprising turn of events at the Republican National Convention (RNC), actor and musician Jack Black found himself at the center of controversy after allegedly attempting to crash the stage during Kid Rock’s performance. Sources close to the incident claim that Black, known for his comedic roles and musical talent, fervently expressed his desire to join Kid Rock on stage, only to be swiftly escorted out by security.
Esspots.com described its output as humorous or satirical in nature. Its disclaimer stated:
Welcome to Esspots.com, a website that specializes in satire, parody, and humor. Before you proceed to read our content, we would like to emphasize that nothing on this website is real. All of the articles, stories, and commentary found on Esspots.com are entirely fictitious and created for the purpose of entertainment only.
This site has a history of fabricating stories for the sake of shares and comments.
Additionally, Snopes ran the article’s text through various online tools that detect content produced by artificial intelligence (AI), such as ZeroGPT, QuillBot, and CopyLeaks. All tools concluded that the text was generated by AI. A growing number of articles containing false rumors on such sites are now being generated in this manner.
Snopes has previously addressed similar satirical rumors from Esspots.com, including the claim that celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay kicked actor Robert De Niro out of one of his restaurants for being “woke” and a rumor that singer Taylor Swift was banned from attending NFL games for being “too distracting.”
For context, understanding why we sometimes write about satire and humor is essential. The rise of misinformation has led to a concerning environment where distinguishing between real news and entertainment has become increasingly challenging. Outlets like Snopes play a vital role in debunking false claims and promoting accurate information. In an era when social media can amplify any story, whether true or not, critical media literacy is paramount. This ensures that audiences consume informed content and understand the distinction between satire and factual reporting.
