Johnny Depp rape comments spark outrage

Johnny Depp has compared having his picture taken to being raped. Photo / Supplied

Johnny Depp has angered rape advocacy groups by comparing photoshoots to being sexually assaulted.

The actor told the latest issue of Vanity Fair that he hates having his picture taken and compared it to being raped.

The Rum Diary actor said he is happy to pose with fans but doesn't like a more contrived setting.

"Well, you just feel like you're being raped somehow. Raped ... It feels like a kind of weird - just weird, man," Depp said.

"But when you have a photoshoot or something like that, it's like - you just feel dumb.

"It's just so stupid."

But anti-sexual violence organisation RAINN, told RadarOnline that they would like to speak to the actor to "educate" him on the serious trauma that rape causes its victims.

The Rape and Incest National Network helps individuals who have gone through the ordeal and think it was not right for the actor to compare having his photo taken to the vicious crime.

"While photos may feel at times intrusive, being photographed in no way compares to rape - a violent crime which affects another American every two minutes," spokeswoman Katherine Hull said.

"RAINN welcomes the opportunity to speak with Mr Depp and educate him about the real life experiences faced by survivors every day and ways that he can work with RAINN to help."

Twilight star Kristen Stewart also caused controversy by comparing paparazzi pictures of herself to images of a woman being raped during an interview with Elle magazine last year.

She later apologised following a backlash from advocacy organisations.

"I really made an enormous mistake - clearly and obviously," Kristen said. "And I'm really sorry about my choice of words."

- AAP