Pirates Of The Caribbean star Johnny Depp is sorry.
In an interview for the November issue of Vanity Fair, the 48-year-old actor opened up about what he perceived to be the downsides of fame.
The notoriously elusive star revealed that he's particularly skittish about having his photo taken.
Posing with fans, Depp said, is one thing, but participating in photo shoots is another. Discussing his distain for the process, he told the magazine (as quoted by the New York Post): "Well, you just feel like you're being raped somehow. Raped ... It feels like a kind of weird - just weird, man."
He added: "Whenever you have a photo shoot or something like that, it's like - you just feel dumb. It's just so stupid."
Depp's comparison rapidly raised eyebrows and drew criticism from an anti-sexual assault group.
As reported by RadarOnline, RAINN - the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network - fired off a response to Depp's comment.
"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," the organisation's spokesperson 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."
Depp has since responded to the uproar, by way of an apology letter directly to RAINN.
"Dear RAINN," the actor wrote.
"I am truly sorry for offending anyone in any way. I never meant to. It was a poor choice of words on my part in an effort to explain a feeling. I understand there is no comparison and I am very regretful. In an effort to correct my lack of judgment, please accept my heartfelt apology. Sincerely, Johnny Depp."
The orginisation responded: "RAINN appreciates and accepts Johnny Depp's heartfelt apology.
"We hope to work with him to provide hope to victims of rape and make sure they get the help they deserve.
Depp's remarks echo those made by Twilight star Kristen Stewart last year. She compared paparazzi intrusion in her life to "being raped".
Stewart told Britain's Elle magazine: "Your little persona is made up of all the places that people have seen you and what has been said about you, and usually the places that I am are so overwhelming in the moment and fleeting for me - like one second where I've said something stupid, that's me, forever," she said.
"What you don't see are the cameras shoved in my face and the bizarre intrusive questions being asked, or the people falling over themselves, screaming and taunting to get a reaction.
"All you see is an actor or a celebrity lit up by a flash.
"It's so ... The photos are so ... I feel like I'm looking at someone being raped. A lot of the time I can't handle it.
"It's f****d. I never expected that this would be my life."
Rape crisis groups poured scorn over Stewart's remarks, and she subsequently issued an apology.
"I really made an enormous mistake - clearly and obviously," Stewart told People magazine. "And I'm really sorry about my choice of words. I've made stupid remarks before, and I've always reasoned: 'Whatever. They can think what they want. Violated definitely would have been a better way of expressing the thought."
P.S. Stewart has finally (albeit accidentally) confirmed she has an English boyfriend. Shocker! I haven't the foggiest who he could be...
Blogger's Briefs:
Roll call: Here come the links...
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The Kiwi actor has been part of the Star Wars universe for more than 20 years.