Chrissie Hynde has been the subject of serious criticism after comments she made blaming rape victims for their attacks.

The Pretenders singer was promoting new memoir Reckless: My Life as a Pretender, when she told the Sunday Times magazine that she blames herself for an incident that occurred when she was 21. The member of an Ohio biker gang said he would take her to a party but instead brought her to a vacant house and forced her to perform sexual acts under the threat of violence. She takes "full responsibility" for what happens. 

She said: “Technically speaking, however you want to look at it, this was all my doing and I take full responsibility. You can’t fuck 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.”

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 wear provocative clothing in the street drunk were also to blame if attacked. “If I’m walking around in my underwear and I’m drunk? Who else’s fault can it be?” she 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. 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 fuck me’, you’d better be good on your feet ... I don’t think I’m saying anything controversial am I?”

Obviously these comments have raised a lot of controversy – particularly among victims of sexual assault.

Lucy Hastings, head of the charity Victim Support, has criticised Hynde's comments, according to the Guardian. "It is critical that nothing deters victims of sexual violence from coming forward to the police or to independent organizations so they can get the help and support they need," Hastings 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," Hastings added.

In all this it's important to remember Hynde is a victim of assault. The way each individual manages to deal with their experience will be different. 

The assault happened decades ago when she was in her early twenties, and many years later she still blames herself. Sadly, this is the way she has chosen to come to terms with what happened.