Legendary singer Chrissie Hynde has been heavily criticised for remarks made about rape victims.
The Pretenders frontwoman, 63, spoke to the Sunday Times magazine about an incident that happened when she was 21, telling the publication that a member of a motorcycle gang promised to take her to a party. Instead, he took her to an empty house where a sexual assault took place.
Chrissie went on to say she took “full responsibility” for what happened.
“Technically speaking, however you want to look at it, this was all my doing and I take full responsibility. You can’t f*** about with people, especially people who wear ‘I Heart Rape’ and ‘On Your Knees’ badges … those motorcycle gangs, that’s what they do”, she said.
Chrissie pictured at the NME awards earlier this year
The singer added:”You can’t paint yourself into a corner and then say whose brush is this? You have to take responsibility. I mean, I was naive.”
“If you play with fire you get burnt. It’s not any secret, is it?”
Hynde went on to lay the blame for assaults at the feet of victims, saying: “If I’m walking around in my underwear and I’m drunk? Who else’s fault can it be?”
“If I’m walking around and I’m very modestly dressed and I’m keeping to myself and someone attacks me, then I’d say that’s his fault. But if I’m being very lairy and putting it about and being provocative, then you are enticing someone who’s already unhinged – don’t do that. Come on! That’s just common sense. You know, if you don’t want to entice a rapist, don’t wear high heels so you can’t run from him.”
Her comments have been condemned by many charities and organisations who support victims of sexual assault.
Lucy Hastings, director of Victim Support, said: “Victims of sexual violence should never feel or be made to feel that they were responsible for the appalling crime they suffered – regardless of circumstances or factors which may have made them particularly vulnerable.
“They should not blame themselves or be blamed for failing to prevent an attack – often they will have been targeted by predatory offenders who are responsible for their actions.”
Fans have been quick to voice their displeasure at the comments on social media also.
Chrissie Hynde is wrong. 100% of rapes have in fact been caused by rapists, not clothes.
— Bessemer (@Bessemerband) August 30, 2015
The sad thing about the Chrissie Hynde comments are that men have been using that excuse for so long women end up believing it
— Liam Gill (@liamgrill) August 30, 2015
Dear Chrissie Hynde – please take a leaf out of this old lady's book. pic.twitter.com/cXQNvQUcLa
— Alan Ferrier (@alanferrier) August 30, 2015
Dear Chrissie Hynde. NOTHING ever justifies the rape or sexual assault of a woman. It's the abusers fault only. Love. A Man.
— Antony Holt (@Hasselschmuck) August 30, 2015
Chrissie Hynde's comments just make me feel incredibly sad for the young woman she was, who even she can't hear.
— Alison Croggon (@alisoncroggon) August 30, 2015
