Johnny Depp apologizes over rape remark

Johnny Depp quickly apologized Wednesday after an excerpt from an upcoming interview appeared in which he compared professional photo shoots to being sexually assaulted.

"I am truly sorry for offending anyone in any way," Depp, 48, said in a statement. "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."

In an interview with Nick Tosches in the November issue of Vanity Fair, published Thursday, Depp said of photo shoots, "You just feel like you're being raped somehow. Raped. The whole thing. It feels like a kind of weird . . . a photo shoot or something like that, just weird, man . . . it's like -- you just feel dumb. It's just so stupid."

Katherine Hull, spokeswoman for RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network), who had originally criticized the actor's statement, said the organization was happy to hear his apology.

"RAINN appreciates and accepts Johnny Depp's heartfelt apology," she said. "We hope to work with him to provide hope to victims of rape and make sure they get the help they deserve."

Last summer, "Twilight" star Kristen Stewart similarly apologized for telling the British edition of Elle that paparazzi photography made her "feel like I'm looking at someone being raped." She subsequently explained, "I really made an enormous mistake -- clearly and obviously. And I'm really sorry about my choice of words."

Depp's interview was to help promote "The Rum Diary," an upcoming independent film he helped produce and in which he stars.

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