Kristen Stewart's rape comment irks rape crisis groups

Washington, (ANI): Actress Kristen Stewart's comment that being photographed felt like getting raped has irked rape crisis groups. The Twilight star said in the July edition of British Elle magazine: “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."

Katherine Hull, a spokesperson on behalf of Rape and Incest National Network (R.A.I.N.N.), believes Stewart"s remark was inappropriate. “Kristen Stewart's comments are regrettable. Portraying a rape survivor in the film 'Speak" should have led her to use a more appropriate metaphor to describe the intrusive nature of the paparazzi," Fox News quoted Hull, as saying.

She added: “Rape is more than an intrusion, it's a violent crime, that causes serious long term mental health effects for victims." Also, Margaret Lazarus, the executive director of RapeIs.org, added: “Rape is a violation in which one has no choice. A star seeking publicity has choices. Although rape involves loss of privacy, loss of privacy does not constitute rape. Let's use a little logical thinking here."

Neil Irwin, Executive Director of the Men Can Stop Rape Organization, said: “Kristen Stewart equating her experience of the paparazzi with rape is like comparing a needle to a knife. “While there is a connection – both involve a loss of control – we at Men Can Stop Rape know from hearing the stories of sexual assault survivors that the degree of hurt caused by rape is greater. Out of respect for these survivors, we would suggest using a more appropriate word, like 'violation.""