Johnny Depp apologizes for Trump assassination joke
Actor Johnny Depp on Friday apologized for joking about assassinating U.S. President Donald Trump, saying his remarks were in “poor taste.”
“The Pirates of the Caribbean” star spoke during an appearance at Britain’s Glastonbury music festival on Thursday when he pondered how long it had been since an actor had killed a U.S. president.
His remarks drew sharp criticism from supporters of Trump, and Depp on Friday said he intended no malice.
loading...
“I apologize for the bad joke I attempted last night in poor taste about President Trump,” Depp, 54, said in a statement to People magazine.
“It did not come out as intended, and I intended no malice. I was only trying to amuse, not to harm anyone.”
As Depp introduced a screening of his 2004 film “The Libertine” at the music and arts festival, discussion turned to the topic of Trump, with Depp saying he thought the president “needs help.”
“Can we bring Trump here?” Depp asked the audience. “It is just a question. I’m not insinuating anything … When was the last time an actor assassinated a president?”
Actor John Wilkes Booth assassinated U.S. President Abraham Lincoln in 1865.
“Now I want to clarify, I’m not an actor,” he continued, amid laughter from the crowd. “I lie for a living. However, it’s been a while, and maybe it’s time.”
Last month U.S. comedian Kathy Griffin drew strong criticism for posing in photographs holding up the likeness of a bloody, severed head resembling Trump. CNN later fired Griffin from its annual New Year’s Eve broadcast over the controversy.
loading...
Last week, a gunman opened fire on Republican lawmakers in the United States who were practising for a charity baseball game.
Loading...