Hynde stands by rape comments

Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde has defended her recent rape comments.

She caused controversy last month for suggesting that women could be to blame for some rapes after she revealed her own experience of being the victim of sex attacks.

She told the Sunday Times: “If 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, putting it about and being provocative, then you’re enticing someone who’s unhinged. Don’t do that. That’s just common sense.”

That sparked anger, with Victim Support director Lucy Hastings criticising the comments and former Runaway Jackie Fox stating she was concerned about the remarks.

But despite the controversy, Hynde stands by her views.

She tells the Washington Post: “They’re entitled to say whatever they want. If you don’t want my opinion, don’t ask me for it.”

And when reminded of what she originally said, Hynde responds: “Sounds like common sense.”

She continues: “At the moment, we’re in one of the worst humanitarian crises in our lifetime. You see a Turkish policeman carrying the body of a three-year-old boy who got washed up on the shore.

“These are the heartbreaking images we have, and we’re talking about millions of displaced people whose families have been destroyed – and we’re talking about comments that I allegedly made about girls in their underwear.”

Hynde releases her autobiography Reckless on September 8 (opens in new tab).

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent more than 30 years in newspapers and magazines as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. After initially joining our news desk in the summer of 2014, he moved to the e-commerce team full-time in 2020. He maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, scouts out the best deals for music fans and reviews headphones, speakers, books and more. He's written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog and has previous written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to video games, travel and whisky. Scott grew up listening to rock and prog, cutting his teeth on bands such as Marillion and Magnum before his focus shifted to alternative and post-punk in the late 80s. His favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Ned's Atomic Dustbin and Drab Majesty, but he also still has a deep love of Rush.