Dame Helen Mirren's 'date rape' comments criticised
Tuesday, 02 Sep 2008 08:47
Dame Helen slammed over suggestions over date rape convictions
Dame Helen Mirren has been slammed over suggesting that not date rape cases should go to court.
The Oscar-winning actress told GQ magazine that she was locked in a room and forced to have sex "a couple of times" during her college days but did not report the incidents because "you couldn't do that in those days".
And the 63-year-old added that that she did not think "she [a female rape victim] can have that man into court under those circumstances".
However, her remarks have been criticised by home office minister Tony McNulty, who said the actress' comments were "profoundly disappointing" and "very unhelpful".
"No means no, means no, and that needs to be the message as clearly as we can in terms of rape," he told the BBC.
The Queen star had commented: "It's such a tricky area, isn't it? Especially if there is no violence. I mean, look at Mike Tyson. I don't think he was a rapist.
"I guess it is one of the many subtle parts of the men/women relationship that has to be negotiated and worked out between them," she added.
But her suggestions have been attacked by campaign groups, with Ruth Hall of Women Against Rape claiming Dame Helen's comments exacerbated the situation for women who are "already having trouble" in dealing with such incidents.
"When you have gone back to somebody's house for instance, which you have every right to do, when maybe you've had something to drink, you are still entitled not to be raped," she said.
Solicitor general Vera Baird said that being raped "makes women feel guilty and ashamed, whether they have encouraged the man's sexual interest or not".
"All women are entitled to say no. A man who goes on despite that commits rape, a crime that can be seriously damaging and which is not justified by any amount of earlier sexual interest she may have shown in him."