Johnny Depp asks, ‘when was the last time an actor assassinated a president?’

JOHNNY Depp has apologised after he asked a festival crowd: “When was the last time an actor assassinated a President?”

Actor Johnny Depp made the comments at the UK’s Glastonbury music festival. Picture: AFP PHOTO / Oli SCARFF

JOHNNY Depp has apologised after he asked a festival crowd: “When was the last time an actor assassinated a President?”

Depp, star of the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise, made the comments about US President Donald Trump at the UK’s Glastonbury music festival.

“I apologize for the bad joke I attempted last night in poor taste about President Trump,” Depp 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.”

The White House issued a statement after Johnny Depp’s comments. Picture: AFP

It came after the White House issued a statement on Depp’s comments.

“President Trump has condemned violence in all forms and it’s sad that others like Johnny Depp have not followed his lead,” the White House said in a statement Friday to ABC News. “I hope 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 Democrat elected official.”

Depp seemed to know that, even if his comments weren’t serious, they would be controversial.

Speaking to the crowd at the festival in the English county of Somerset, he asked, “Can we bring Trump in?”. The crowd responded with loud boos, reported ABC America.

“No, no, no. You misunderstand completely. I think he needs help,” said Depp to the crowd

“It’s just a question. I’m not insinuating anything — by the way this will be in the press and it will be horrible ... but when was the last time an actor assassinated a president?” he asked as the crowd cheered.

The Hollywood star was introducing a band when he made the remarks. Picture: Ian Gavan/Getty Images.

It’s possible that Depp was referencing actor John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. Although it’s not clear how au fait a crowd of mainly British music lovers would be about the deaths of US presidents.

“I want to clarify: I’m not an actor,” he continued.

“I lie for a living, however it’s been a while. Maybe it’s about time.”

In a statement to ABC News, the US Secret Service said, “We actively monitor open source reporting, including social media networks, and we evaluate potential threats.

“For security reasons, we cannot discuss specifically nor in general terms the means and methods of how we perform our protective responsibilities.”

Depp has not yet made further comment on his remarks.

Joking about assassinating presidents can be a career limiting move, as comedian Kathy Griffin recently found out.

Comedian Kathy Griffin reacts during a news conference to discuss the comedian's "motivation" behind a photo of her holding what appeared to be a prop depicting US President Donald Trump's bloodied, severed head, with her lawyer, Lisa Bloom (R). Picture: AFP

Earlier this month, she posted behind the scenes footage from a shoot with photographer Tyler Shields which showed a prop of Trump’s decapitated head.

President Trump’s 11-year-old son Barron screamed with panic seeing a picture of a decapitated head he thought was his father, TMZ reported.

“We’re told he panicked and screamed, ‘Mommy, Mommy!’” the agency reported.

“As it was put to us, ‘He’s 11. He doesn’t know who Kathy Griffin is and the head she was holding resembled his dad’.”

The President said the controversial star “should be ashamed” for her tasteless display.

She was subsequently sacked from broadcaster CNN where she presented a new year’s eve show.