Chrissie Hynde Criticised Over 'Rape' Remarks: 'If You Dress Provocatively, You're Enticing Someone Who's Already Unhinged'

Chrissie Hynde Comes Under Fire Over 'Rape' Comments
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Chrissie Hynde has come under fire for suggesting that it can be a woman's fault if she becomes the victim of a sexual assault.

The Pretenders singer said she blames herself for being forced to perform sexual acts under the threat of violence.

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Chrissie Hynde

When she was 21, the star crossed paths with members of one of Ohio's leather-clad gangs who promised to take her to a party - but instead took her to an empty house, yet she claims to take "full responsibility".

"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..."

When asked whether the gang took advantage of her vulnerability, she replied: "If you play with fire you get burnt. It's not any secret, is it?"

Hynde went on to say that women who dress provocatively while walking down the street drunk are also to blame if they are attacked.

"If I'm walking around in my underwear and I'm drunk? Who else's fault can it be?"

She explained: "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.

"If you're wearing something that says 'Come and f*** me', you'd better be good on your feet... I don't think I'm saying anything controversial am I?"

But her comments were condemned by the charity Victim Support who said that victims "should not blame themselves".

Lucy Hastings, the charity's director, 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.

"It is critical that nothing deters victims of sexual violence from coming forward to the police or to independent organisations so they can get the help and support they need."

8 Dumb Comments About Rape Made By Powerful Men
Ken Clarke (01 of09)
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Tory big beast Ken Clarke faced calls for his resignation following comments he made about rape sentencing policy. The then Justice Secretary was speaking to BBC 5 Live in 2011 when he appeared to suggest date rape is not always “rape”. Addressing presenter Victoria Derbyshire, he said: “Assuming that you and I are taking about rape in the ordinary conversational sense, some man has forcefully…”In this full transcript provided by the BBC, Derbyshire interjected with: “Rape is rape,” to which Clarke replied: “No it’s not.” (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Rick Santorum (02 of09)
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In 2012 GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum explained his opposition to abortion even in cases of rape in an interview with CNN’s Piers Morgan. He said that women who face such circumstances should “make the best of a bad situation”. When asked what he would say if his own daughter approached him, begging for an abortion after being raped, he explained he would counsel her to “accept this horribly created” baby because it was still a gift from God, even if it was given in a “broken” way. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
George Galloway (03 of09)
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George Galloway ignited fierce debate in 2012 over comments he made relating to the sex crime allegations against WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange. On his podcast Good Night with George Galloway, posted on YouTube, he said: “It might be really sordid and bad sexual etiquette, but whatever else it is, it is not rape or you bankrupt the term rape of all meaning.” Swedish prosecutors wish to question Assange on suspicion of offences of unlawful coercion, sexual molestation and rape. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Roger Helmer (04 of09)
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In 2011 UKIP candidate Roger Helmer blogged his opinion that there are distinctions between “date” and “stranger” rape. “Rape is always wrong, but not always equally culpable,” he wrote. With reference to “stranger” rape, he said: “… the victim surely shares a part of the responsibility, if only for establishing reasonable expectations in her boyfriend’s mind.” (credit:Matt Cardy via Getty Images)
Alan Pardew(05 of09)
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In 2009 then BBC football pundit Alan Pardew, now coach of Newcastle United, was forced to issue an apology after he compared a tackle by Chelsea’s Michael Essien to a rape on Match of the Day. Essien had collided with City’s striker Ched Evans when Pardew said: “He’s a strong boy. He knocks him off." As Alan Hansen interjected with “he mauls him”, Pardew added: "he absolutely rapes him." (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Graeme Swan (06 of09)
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In 2013 England spinner Graeme Swann said sorry after comparing the third Ashes Test loss to Australia as being “arse raped” Swann made the comments on Facebook during an exchange with his brother hours after England’s loss. He took to Twitter to apologise: “Sorry to anyone who was offended by my comments in the papers today. Crass and thoughtless of me in the extreme.” (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Demetri Marchessini(07 of09)
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In May UKIP Donor Demetri Marchessini argued there was no such as thing as marital rape, claiming: “If you make love on Friday and make love on Sunday, you can’t say Saturday is rape.” When asked whether UKIP should be taking cash from a donor with such repellent views, leader Nigel Farage replied: “Possibly not.”
Judge Derek Johnson (08 of09)
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California judge Derek Johnson was publicly admonished in 2012 for suggesting a rape victim “did not put up a fight” and that if someone truly doesn’t want to have sex, their body “will not permit that to happen.” Judge Johnson made his comments during a case where a man threatened to mutilate the face and genitals of his former girlfriend with a heated screwdriver. In documents published on the Californian Commisson on Judicial Performance, he is recorded as saying: “I'm not a gynecologist, but I can tell you something - if someone doesn't want to have sexual intercourse, the body shuts down. The body will not permit that to happen unless a lot of damage is inflicted, and we heard nothing about that in this case.”
Todd Aikin (09 of09)
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Failed Republican Senate candidate Todd Akin suggested in 2012 that victims of “legitimate rape” don’t need the option of abortion because they “rarely” become pregnant. He later apologised. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)