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...
* First look: Sneak a peek at Russell Crowe in his Man of Steel duds. The Daily Mail (aka the paunch police) has published a series of snaps of the actor in full costume as Superman's biological father, Jor-El.
* Top British songbird Adele has been forced to cancel her upcoming sold-out US tour due to a hemorrhage in her vocal chord. "I have absolutely no choice but to recuperate properly and fully, or I risk damaging my voice forever," she wrote on her website. James Bond track in jeopardy?
* Scream 4 star David Arquette pipes up about his still-close relationship with estranged wife Courteney Cox. They're tight, but don't hold out for a reconciliation. "We're pretty much in the friend zone," he tells Access Hollywood.
* Jennifer Aniston planning secret barefoot New Year wedding to Justin Theroux in Mexico? Venue? Check. Dress? Check. Guest list made up of celebrity pals? Check. Groom's (OMG!) Bermuda shorts? Locked and loaded. Click on over to Now mag for the fanciful lowdown.
* Children's book author Maurice Sendak hates everyone ... including Gwyneth Paltrow. In a deliciously-crabby interview with the Guardian, Sendak has a pop at everything from e-books, Rupert Murdoch to Roald Dahl (he's glad he's dead) and Stephen King (bull***t).
* And it's been a very bad week for ... Ashton Kutcher. The tabloid drama ensues for the Two And A Half Men star and his wife Demi Moore. Lurid tales of alleged hot-tube shenanigans, and, not surprisingly, claims that Kutcher's now moved out on Moore.
* Love's logic: The very quotable Courtney Love speaks to Vanity Fair and spills that she's still mad at Nirvana rocker Kurt Cobain for committing suicide in 1994. "Mad? Ya think?! If he came back right now I'd have to kill him, for what he did to us. I'd f***ing kill him. I'd f*** him, and then I'd kill him."
* Check out mum-to-be Beyonce's 30-second teaser of her soon-to-be-released music video for new single, Countdown. Loving the short pixie cut - Twiggy, anyone? - and Queen B's footloose foray into mod fashion. The full promo drops on Friday:
- Blogger Bites Back