Johnny Depp apologizes for joke about assassinating Donald Trump

Bryan Alexander | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Johnny Depp jokes about assassinating President Trump It looks like Johnny Depp could have used a lesson from Kathy Griffin after joking about assassinating President Trump.

Facing mounting criticism, Johnny Depp has apologized for his joke Thursday at Glastonbury Festival about President Trump being assassinated.

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

Speaking onstage at the music festival in Somerset, England, Depp stepped into controversy with jokes aimed at Trump that addressed presidential assassination.

"Can we bring Trump here?" Depp asked the crowd at the festival.

"I think he needs help," Depp said, according to video posted online. "This is going to be in the press and it'll be horrible. But I like that you're all a part of it. When was the last time an actor assassinated a president?"

As the crowd roared, Depp thoughtfully rubbed his chin. "I want to clarify, I'm not an actor, I lie for a living," he said. The Associated Press reported that Depp then added it's "been a while, and maybe it's time."

Actor John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Abraham Lincoln in 1865.

The White House on Friday issued an unsigned statement, containing grammar and spelling errors, saying Trump has condemned all violence and that it's "sad" that Depp hasn't followed suit. The statement urged Depp's Hollywood colleagues to speak out against "this kind of rhetoric as strongly as they would if his comments were directed to a democrat elected official."

According to Britain's The Guardian, Depp received a "rock star welcome" during the Glastonbury event at Cineramageddon, a drive-in cinema.

Depp introduced his 2004 film The Libertine along with director Julian Temple. But first he talked about Trump following questions from the audience of 1,500.

The actor has been in the headlines this year following his contentious divorce from ex-wife Amber Heard and a lawsuit with his former business managers. Depp sued the Management Group in January for more than $25 million, charging fraud and negligence.

The Management Group countersued, saying Depp spent lavishly on homes, private jets, art and up to $30,000 a month in wine, despite its warnings.

Last month, comedian Kathy Griffin prompted a national outcry when she posted a picture of herself holding a mock "decapitated" head of Donald Trump.

The Secret Service said it was aware of Depp's comments about Trump at Glastonbury, according to ABC News.