The 63-year-old has come under fire for revealing that she blames herself for being forced to perform sexual acts under the threat of violence by a biker gang when she was 21.
Charity Victim Support has responded to her statement by insisting victims should never be made to feel responsible, no matter what the circumstances.
Chrissie told the Sunday Times magazine that when she was 21 she went with an Ohio motorcycle gang member to what she thought was a party but turned out to be an empty house.
She said: “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.”
She was then asked if the gang took advantage of her vulnerability, to which she replied: “If you play with fire you get burnt. It’s not any secret, is it?”
Hynde went on to controversially claim that that women who dress provocatively while drunk are also to blame if they were attacked. She said: “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. 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.
She concluded: “If you’re wearing something that says ‘Come and f*** me’, you’d better be good on your feet ... I don’t think I’m saying anything controversial am I?”
Lucy Hastings, director of Victim Support, has responded in a statement, saying: “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.
“They should not blame themselves or be blamed for failing to prevent an attack – often they will have been targeted by predatory offenders who are responsible for their actions.
“It is critical that nothing deters victims of sexual violence from coming forward to the police or to independent organisations so they can get the help and support they need.”