ITV's Loose Women escapes Ofcom investigation over rape poll
Ofcom rules that panel show poll asking ‘Is it ever a woman’s fault if she is raped?’ did not breach broadcasting code.
ITV’s Loose Women will not be investigated following its decision to conduct a poll asking whether it was ever a woman’s fault for being raped.
The women’s chat show posed the question following comments from Pretenders lead singer Chrissie Hynde in which she said she took “full responsibility” for being sexually assaulted when she was 21.
The poll asked: “Is it ever a woman’s fault if she is raped?” 87.85 per cent of respondents answered no.
Ofcom received 74 complaints about the poll and assessed the incident under section 2 of the broadcasting code covering harm and offence.
The media regulator said that the results of the poll, the outcome and the show's track record of covering difficult topics meant an investigation was not necessary.
In a statement Ofcom said it had carefully considered a number of complaints regarding the offense and “noted the panel did not say that rape victims were in any way responsible for the behaviour of their attackers; and the audience strongly concurred with the sentiment ‘no means no’ expressed by many on the panel.”
The statement added that the panel discussion and references to the online poll “were in line with audience expectations for this live panel programme, which often covers difficult topics," culminating in the watchdog's decision not to take the matter forward.
Over the years, the lunchtime panel show has been no stranger to controversy. Coleen Nolan’s comments comparing people supporting gay rights to ISIS members is one such incident.