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Chrissie Hynde has followed up her controversial opinions on rape victims by claiming that she thought it was "common sense".

The Pretenders singer sparked outrage earlier, claiming that female rape victims "have to take responsibility" for what happens to them.

In a new interview with The Washington Post, Hynde has expressed that she has no regrets surrounding the comments and when the Sunday Times paragraph was read back to her she cited it as "common sense".

“At the moment, we’re in one of the worst humanitarian crises in our lifetime,” Hynde said: You see that 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.”

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In the original Sunday Times interview, the singer remarked: "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."

"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?"

Since then a number of figures have stood up against Hynde's comments, including the director of the charity Victim Support, Lucy Hastings, who 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."

The Runaways' Jackie Fuchs has also responded, saying: "Don’t put your heroes on pedestals. I don’t want to cast a stone at Chrissie Hynde — just at that one particular statement. Because it’s a really dangerous message."

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