Rocker Chrissie Hynde was 21 when she met a motorcyclist in Ohio who promised to take her to a fun party. Instead, he took her to an empty house where he forced her to perform sexual acts on him without her consent.
There is one person responsible for that sordid crime. The rapist. Rapists commit rape, rapists are responsible for 100% of rape.
But who does Hynde blame? Herself.
“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. 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 then goes on to blame rape on the victim’s wardrobe instead of on…ya know, rapists…
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.
Rape is only the rapists’ fault when you wear a specific dress code or act a certain way? That’s like saying that a man who walks down the street in a business suit deserves to be robbed because he is “dressed rich.” This is sadly, textbook victim blaming. Hynde shouldn’t blame herself, or anyone else, for the crimes that are perpetrated against them.
In only a few short hours social media has exploded in opposition to Hynde’s remarks:
Chrissie Hynde has lost her damn mind. This is the type of indoctrination that needs to die out. Jesus. https://t.co/CQ4WLH9tgz
— Miss Mox (@hotblackbitter) August 30, 2015
Hynde is wrong: 100% of rapes are caused by rapists not clothes Pretenders Singer Chrissie Hynde on Rape http://t.co/ArUy825fCb via @vulture
— Mary Penn (@mary_penn) August 30, 2015
“@Independent: Don't wear high heels if you don't want to entice rapists, says Chrissie Hynde pic.twitter.com/JcFSCeC32W” Chrissie why
— Patti (@emilypttrsn) August 30, 2015
Wow I’m shocked about chrissie Hynde
— Kelly Kotur (@KellyKotur) August 30, 2015
Being sexually assaulted was not your fault, Chrissie Hynde – please don't tell other victims it was theirs http://t.co/TgzwPC86Oe
— JasbirBhogalRuprai (@jassi_kbr) August 30, 2015
https://twitter.com/KateHarding/status/638033689411235841
100% of rapes are provoked, perpetrated, and performed by rapists. 
