Online survey for talk show Loose Women, prompted by recent comments by singer Chrissie Hynde, leads to angry criticism from viewers and charities

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

ITV has issued an apology after a backlash over an online poll for its Loose Women programme, which asked whether women were ever to blame for being raped.

Results of the poll, carried out in light of comments by the Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde last week, were overwhelmingly negative but the fact the question was even asked sparked anger.

One volunteer for a charity that supports rape survivors said the poll had already led to clients contacting her with concerns and warned it could stop others from coming forward to report crimes against them. Rape Crisis called the poll “ill-considered, insensitive and insulting” and said responsibility for rape always lay with the perpetrator.

The poll was published online before a panel discussion about Hynde’s remarks on the daytime programme. Hynde had told the Sunday Times magazine that when she was 21 a motorcycle gang member promised to take her to a party but instead took her to an empty house where she was assaulted.

But, she added, she took “full responsibility” for what happened, and she went on to say that women who dress provocatively while walking down the street drunk were also to blame if they were attacked. “If I’m walking around in my underwear and I’m drunk? Who else’s fault can it be?” she said.

In light of Hynde’s comments, the Loose Women poll asked: “Is it ever a woman’s fault if she is raped?” An overwhelming 87.85% of respondents said no.

Loose Women (@loosewomen) POLL: After Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde's comments- we're asking is it ever a woman's fault if she is raped? http://t.co/raAGqzKpYH

Katie Russell, the national spokeswoman for Rape Crisis England & Wales, called the poll completely inappropriate and said her organisation was disappointed that the ITV show could think otherwise “even for a moment”.

“Legally, not to mention morally, rape is always 100% the responsibility of its perpetrator and no one else,” she said in an emailed statement, adding that self-blame and shame were a major reason for many victims not reporting attacks to police.

“A programme like Loose Women could choose to use its high profile to raise awareness and understanding of rape, its impacts and prevalence, and to support and encourage survivors to seek services like those Rape Crisis offers,” she added. “Instead, they’ve reinforced myths and stereotypes with this ill-considered, insensitive and insulting poll.

“We do hope they’ll apologise to their audience and the wider public, especially the large numbers of rape survivors among both.”

Claire Louise Sheridan, a volunteer support worker with Peterborough Rape Crisis Care Group, said that some women had already contacted her with concerns about the sentiments expressed in the poll.

“It’s archaic attitudes like that that are continuing the whole victim-blaming culture,” she said. “I’ve been receiving messages from people saying: ‘This is making me feel really horrible.’”

She said the very suggestion that sexual attacks can be the fault of the victim would have a knock-on effect on rape survivors. “It’s actually going to stop people from coming forward and that’s a serious thing. I don’t think they have thought through what they are doing.”

On Twitter, one viewer criticised the poll as “staggeringly offensive” and many said they were writing to ITV to complain. Others called for the poll to be taken down immediately.

MCabourn-Smith (@MCabournSmith) @loosewomen Take this down it's entirely unacceptable.

Rosianna Halse Rojas (@papertimelady) Take this down, @loosewomen. Now. https://t.co/7Z7JDSjlcq

Luce Lips (@crapolatombola) .@loosewomen how about Men should just not rape women. Even if I prance around naked I don't deserve vicious sexual assault.Seriously, wtf?

Lucy Budge (@LucynThePlot) @loosewomen The most disgusting TV poll I've seen. Unhelpful, victim-blaming. Rape is NEVER the victim's fault!! I will be complaining...

Ofcom, the broadcast regulator, said it had received more than a dozen complaints in the three hours after the poll was published online. “We will assess these complaints before deciding whether to investigate or not,” a spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for ITV’s Loose Women apologised for a misjudgment in the way the poll had been worded. The spokesperson said: “Loose Women is a daily talk show centred around topical debate and this discussion, linked to a recent news story, involved a full and frank range of views from the panellists.

“We always want to know what our viewers think about topical issues, however, we accept that the wording of the online poll was misjudged and we apologise for any offence caused.”