Right as RAINN

Wow. He cleans up nice.Belay that!

The pirate has opened his cute mouth and inserted his adorable foot.

But he took it right out in order to fit in a generous serving of crow.

As a result I have received no fewer than a half-dozen emails from interested parties wanting to know my reaction.

I cannot imagine why anyone would seek my opinion on a news item involving the estimable Mr. Depp, but who's to argue?

Besides, if you know me at all you're well aware that I'm rarely loath to share my myriad editorial views.

So here you go. The opportune moment, as it were.

Johnny was wrong, dead wrong, to compare serving as the subject of a photo shoot to being raped.

I mean, come on, Johnny. Ouch.

In case you hadn't heard this juicy news tidbit, perhaps it's because the story was quickly eclipsed by the untimely death on Wednesday of Apple CEO Steve Jobs.

At any rate, the ill-advised comment was made by the second-highest-paid actor in the world in the November issue of Vanity Fair.

Which edition of the famously stylish but ultra-liberal rag was not yet on newsstands when the firestorm erupted.

Methinks when Johnny came up with that particular metaphor he may have been smoking something a trifle stronger than his beloved Bali Shag. Or perhaps rum had been administered.

At any rate, Katherine Hull, spokesperson for the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) wasted no time in trotting Johnny out to the woodshed thusly:

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. 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.

To which Johnny quickly and publicly responded:

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.

Ah! That was nice. See? Johnny knows how to be good.

However.

Although I do not defend my favorite actor's use of the ugly word rape, I would like to point out a few things.

The first being, I believe Johnny's original statement was misrepresented in at least one news outlet, which reported that he likened sitting for a photo shoot to being a victim of violent sexual assault.

But Johnny didn't use those words. What he actually said was that being the subject of a photo shoot feels "dumb" and "weird" and "stupid" and "like rape."

Although Johnny undeniably used the word rape -- at no time does he claim he was misquoted -- I do not think he meant it in the sense of a violent sexual assault. I think his intended meaning was that posing for his picture sometimes makes him feel violated.

Which, I am sorry to say because I make no attempt to disguise the fact that I like Johnny very much, is still total hogwash.

People. Hundreds of times throughout his long career Johnny Depp has shown up of his own free will at a prearranged time and in a predetermined place, and submitted to having his picture taken.

This isn't exactly his first rodeo. He knows what's going to happen beforehand. I'm pretty sure there are rules set down by him or his handlers to which, even if they are more or less guidelines, the photographers know they are expected to adhere.

Also I am pretty sure Johnny is paid for his services, and paid handsomely. No pun intended.

So if it feels like rape, why does he agree to enter into the process over and over and over again? Nobody who has ever been raped would volunteer to show up for an encore.

The truth is, Johnny has never been raped and he does not know how it feels. But many people do know how it feels and they live with its bitter aftermath every day of the world.

Nothing in life is real to us until it's personal. I believe if the concept of rape were personal to Johnny, he never would have compared it to his feelings of unease when he is obliged to pose for a set of photos.

I wonder how his comments made the photographers feel. The professionals who surely consider it a great privilege and quite the feather in their cap to work with him, and who over the years have respectfully -- sometimes even reverentially -- provided thousands of images of the celebrated face.

One can imagine more than a few of them being taken aback to learn that Johnny felt during their photo shoot that he was being raped. Makes one ponder why the spokesperson for the National Association of Freelance Photographers (NAFP) didn't take Johnny to task as well. 

Maybe it's because they knew he was using hyperbole. They chose to take into account the context in which he spoke and to cut him some slack.

Or maybe they didn't gripe because they'd like to take his picture again. Or maybe they're glad he feels raped when they take his picture.

Perhaps they were too busy to even notice he'd said anything. If I were a professional photographer, that's the kind I'd want to be.

But seriously. Who hasn't heard, for example, of someone referring to farmers "raping" the land? Surely when you hear or read that, you know the word "rape" is not being used to denote violent sexual assault.

Just as the many nuances of vocabulary must be considered by highly visible people before they speak publicly, so must listeners sometimes use their noggin before getting all indignant and insisting the person walk the plank.

As for RAINN, I believe they had a responsibility to the victims they advocate, as well as to those who donate money and time and influence to their charity, to upbraid Johnny on his unfortunate choice of words. If they hadn't spoken out, it could have sent the message that they thought Johnny was too big to be told by those he unwittingly offended, that his comment was hurtful.

And wasn't it gallant of JD to so graciously own up to his gaffe? I think so. I'll bet nobody was expecting that.

Pirate.

Reply to: Reply to Jennifer Weber Send

Comments

[Debbie]

That top picture doesn't even look like he usually looks.

An interesting note, hubby plays bass guitar, keyboard, and sings with a band (one of his many hobbies). They have a new drummer, he looks EXACTLY like your idol, exactly. It is very strange.

[Jennifer]

@Debbie ... that IS strange. The drummer must be very good looking! And see, to me the top picture looks more like Johnny than any picture I've ever seen. Just about.