Chrissie Hynde Defends Her Comments About Rape Victims

After drawing fire for her remarks about rape victims, Chrissie Hynde has chosen to stand by what she said. In a new interview, the former Pretenders frontwoman said that she hasn't been too bothered by the controversy.

She told the Washington Post, “Do I regret saying it? I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about it.”

Last week, Hynde, while attempting to take responsibility for a personal experience as a sexual assault victim, said, "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." She later added, "if you don’t want to entice a rapist, don’t wear high heels so you can’t run from him."

Hynde, who turns 64 today (Sept. 7), shrugged off her statements by saying, "Sounds like common sense [...] If you don't want my opinion, don't ask me for it."

Then she pivoted from her words to the ongoing refugee crisis, referencing a picture of "a Turkish policeman carrying the body of a 3-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 persons and people whose families have been destroyed and we’re talking about comments that I allegedly made about girls in their underwear.”

Hynde's memoir: Reckless, My Life as a Pretender, will be released tomorrow.

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This Day in Rock History: September 7