Rocker Chrissie Hynde breaks her silence about controversial rape remarks and says the assault on her by outlaw bikers is 'the way it was' 

• Chrissie Hynde, 63, when younger, fell in with a band of outlaw bikers and was beaten, robbed and raped, she said in interview airing Sunday
• Hynde said, 'If you hung out with those guys, that's what happened. That's the way it was'
• Earlier this week, the former Pretenders star was criticized for saying that it can be a woman's fault if she is raped
• Speaking about her critics in regards to her comments, she said 'They’re entitled to say whatever they want'

By Associated Press and Dailymail.com Reporter

Published: 09:30 EST, 4 September 2015 | Updated: 09:36 EST, 4 September 2015

Days after coming under fire for her comments about rape victims, legendary rocker Chrissie Hynde said in an interview that the assault on her by outlaw bikers was 'the way it was'. 

Early in her life, the star of 1980s group The Pretenders fell in with the bikers.

Hynde wound up being beaten, robbed and raped, she said during an interview to air this week on CBS's Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood. 

The 63-year-old is philosophical about the assault: 'If you hung out with those guys, that's what happened. That's the way it was,' she said.

Early in life, Rocker Chrissie Hynde, pictured in 2009, fell in with a band of outlaw bikers. She wound up being beaten, robbed and raped she said in an interview to air this week on CBS. She said, 'If you hung out with those guys, that's what happened. That's the way it was'

Hynde, 63, pictured in 2010, angered women's groups by saying in an interview that she took 'full responsibility' for being the victim of a group sex attack when she was young

Hynde said she didn't fear for her life, though she should have.

'We were just trying to score pot and see bands,' she explained. 'And if motorcycles were part of it, then even better.'

But things could easily get out of hand. 'With a lot of these guys, once you get involved with them, you don't really get out,' she says. 'Especially if you're a woman - you become sort of property.' 

Earlier this week, Hynde angered women's groups by saying she took 'full responsibility' for being the victim of a group sex attack when she was young. 

Speaking about her critics in regards to her comments, she told the Washington Post: 'They’re entitled to say whatever they want.'

'Do I regret saying it? I don’t know,' she continued. 'I haven’t really thought about it.'

And to those who might have been offended about her controversial comments, she said: 'If you don’t want my opinion, don’t ask me for it.'

'At the moment, we’re in one of the worst humanitarian crises in our lifetime.

'You see that picture of a Turkish policeman carrying the body of a three-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.'

The singer pictured in her 20s when she says she was sexually assaulted by a biker gang - who promised to take her to a party, but instead took her to an empty house

The former Pretenders singer's comments that the assault was her 'fault', and her claim that women who dress or behave provocatively 'entice' rapists, led to a heated debate on social media, with some backing her stance while others accused her of holding outdated views

Hynde previously revealed that she was 21 and high on drugs when she encountered a motorcycle gang who promised to take her to a party.

Instead, they drove her to an empty house, where she was forced to perform sexual acts under the threat of violence.

But her comments that the assault was her 'fault', and her claim that women who dress or behave provocatively 'entice' rapists, led to a heated debate on social media, with some backing her stance while others accused her of holding outdated views.

Hynde said it was 'common sense' advice, adding: 'Don't wear high heels so you can't run from him. If you're wearing something that says 'Come and **** me', you'd better be good on your feet.

Hynde writes about the attack which occurred in Ohio, the place of her birth, in her newly published memoir, Reckless: My Life as a Pretender

'If I'm walking around in my underwear and I'm drunk? Who else's fault can it be?'

The mother of two added: '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 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.'

Hynde describes the incident, which occurred in Ohio, the place of her birth, in her newly published memoir, Reckless: My Life as a Pretender.

At the time she was high on Quaalude, a sedative widely taken as a recreational drug at that time.

She told the Sunday Times Magazine: 'This [the sexual assault] was all my doing and I take full responsibility. You can't **** about with people, especially people who wear 'I Heart Rape' 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...'

Asked if the gang had taken advantage of her vulnerability, she replied: 'If you play with fire you get burnt. It's not any secret, is it?'

Last night her comments were backed by former Tory Member of Parliament Ann Widdecombe, 67. 

She said: 'I have two reactions. The first is that thank heavens somebody has said it at last. It is common sense as she says, women have a duty to take care of themselves and not put themselves in precarious situations. 

'You wouldn't leave your handbag lying around with your purse in it for anybody to have access to it. If you take care of your property why wouldn't you take care of yourself?'

But she added: 'Where she is wrong is to say she is solely responsible.' 

Widdecombe said that while Hynde may have 'contributed' to what happened, her attackers were also responsible.

Speaking about her critics in regards to her comments, Hynde, pictured on her album cover for Stockholm, said: 'They’re entitled to say whatever they want'

Lucy Hastings, director of the charity Victim Support, 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.

'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 from coming forward to the police or to independent organisations so they can get the help and support they need.'

Sarah Green, of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said: 'Women are not to blame for assaults regardless of what they are wearing or if they have had a lot to drink.' She called for better support to help victims 'work this stuff out'.

Hynde, who moved to England in 1973 and found fame with The Pretenders' first album in 1980, has two daughters – Natalie, 32, whose father is The Kinks lead singer Ray Davies, and Yasmin, 30, daughter of Hynde's first husband, Simple Minds star Jim Kerr.

The singer has given up drugs, alcohol and cigarettes and now embraces a clean-living lifestyle.

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