ABC/Randy Holmes
(LOS ANGELES) — Hours after actor Johnny Depp made it sound like he’d be interested in killing President Trump, he’s saying he’s sorry.
The Pirates of the Caribbean star seemingly referenced Abraham Lincoln’s assassin, actor John Wilkes Booth, while Depp introduced his new film The Libertine at England’s Glastonbury Festival Thursday. Depp asked the crowd, “When was the last time an actor assassinated a president?”
He then added, “Maybe it’s time.”
Following a huge outcry, and a condemnation by the White House, Depp now tells People, “I apologize for the bad joke I attempted last night in poor taste about President Trump. It did not come out as intended…I intended no malice. I was only trying to amuse, not to harm anyone.”
In a statement, the White House said, “President Trump has condemned violence in all forms and it’s sad that others like Johnny Depp have not followed his lead.”
The statement added that the White House hoped that, “some of Mr. Depp’s colleagues will speak out against this type of rhetoric as strongly as they would if his comments were directed to a Democratic elected official.”
The actor is just the latest celebrity to level violent words against the president.
Back in January, Madonna told a crowd she, “thought a lot about blowing up the White House.” She later said she was taken out of context.
Weeks ago, comedienne Kathy Griffin apologized for a photo shoot in which she held a bloodied dummy head made to look like President Trump’s.
The Central Park’s Shakespeare in the Park retelling of Julius Caesar currently features the title character, actor Gregg Henry, specifically dressed like Trump, getting stabbed to death nightly.
Depp’s “assassination” message comes weeks after a disgruntled former Bernie Sanders campaign volunteer opened fire on a group of Republican legislators, critically wounding Rep. Steve Scalise.
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