Jack Black Calls Courtney Love Absurd Over Muppet Fued

Jack Black has spoken out against Courtney Love's recent rant on the Muppets. The Tenacious D singer says Love's criticism over the use of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" in the last Muppets movie is unwarranted.

Earlier this week, the widow of Kurt Cobain lashed out at Disney and the Muppets for using "Smells Like Teen Spirit" in 2011's The Muppet Movie. Love stated that she owns the rights to the grunge icons' catalog and her permission was never sought. She referred to the G-rated cover as raping the legacy of Cobain.

Black, who was featured in that very scene, naturally disagrees.

"I beg to differ," the actor told E! while at SXSW in Austin, TX. "That's absurd, absurd, absurd. I personally hold no one in higher esteem in the world of rock. Kurt Cobain for me is at the top of the pyramid. He was the king…When he died it was sort of the end of rock."

It has been reported that Courtney Love sold half the rights to Nirvana's music to Primary Wave Music, who also received the authority to distribute their songs. The firm granted permission for "Smells Like Teen Spirit" to be covered in the film. Former Nirvana members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic have reportedly gave their blessings as well, and a portion of the royalties are to go to Love and her daughter Frances Bean Cobain.

In Tenacious D news, the duo will release their forthcoming album, Rize of the Fenix, on May 15.