Loose Women have faced a backlash after running a poll asking whether it is “ever a woman’s fault if she is raped”.
The vote, posed by panellists Ruth Langsford, June Sarpong, Nadia Sawalha and Janet Street-Porter, came in today’s episode of the ITV talk show, which has returned from its summer break.
It followed comments made by Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde, who told the Sunday Times that victims have to “take responsibility”.
https://twitter.com/loosewomen/status/638650440297545728
The viewers’ poll was an overwhelming 88% for no, with only 12% voting yes, and was criticised by viewers as well as help centre Rape Crisis.
Viewers took to Twitter to express their anger at the show, calling it “unacceptable” and “dangerous”.
Viewer Grace Richards, from Wallingham, has even set up a campaign on Change.org, asking ITV to “cancel Loose Women for their continued sexism and victim blaming”.
A spokeswoman for ITV’s Loose Women said: “Loose Women is a daily talk show centred around topical debate, and this online poll and the discussion on today’s Loose Women panel was directly linked to a recent news story.”
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