Johnny Depp Makes Controversial Joke About Assassinating President Trump (UPDATE)

Johnny Depp asked a crowd in England: "When was the last time an actor assassinated a president?"

June 23, 2017

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Complex Original

UPDATED 6/23/17, 3:10 p.m. ET:

According to a statement Depp sent to People Magazine on Friday, the actor apologized for the joke and claimed that there was no malice behind it. He further stated that he was trying to be amusing, but that the joke was bad and in poor taste.

“I apologize for the bad joke I attempted last night in poor taste about President Trump,"Depp said. "It did not come out as intended, and I intended no malice. I was only trying to amuse, not to harm anyone.”

As if that wasn't humbling enough, the Secret Service also said that they were aware of what Depp said, but they declined further comment.

Original Story Below

Weeks after Kathy Griffin came under fire for taking photos with a fake severed head depicting U.S. President Donald Trump, Johnny Depp has taken his own controversial stance against the president. This one was also a bit over the line.

Depp, 54, addressed a crowd in England Thursday. He was presenting his 2004 film The Libertine at a drive-in movie theater in Glastonbury when the topic shifted to the White House.

“I think he needs help and there are a lot of wonderful dark, dark places he could go,” Depp said. That was innocent enough. But then he went on.

Depp asked the crowd: "When was the last time an actor assassinated a president?"

It was clearly a reference to John Wilkes Booth’ assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865. Booth was a well-known actor and a member of the prominent Booth theatrical family.

NME provided video of the strange moment.

Depp seemed to try to backpedal.

“I want to clarify, I am not an actor. I lie for a living,” Depp said. “However, it has been a while and maybe it is time.”

Depp drew criticism on Twitter.

This is poor timing on Depp’s part, considering Louisiana Representative Steve Scalise was shot just last week in an attack that reportedly had political motivations.