Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has refused to issue an apology to the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) after facing intense backlash for comparing rival carriers to sexual predators in a bid to highlight his airline’s low prices.
Speaking to journalists ahead of the company’s annual shareholder meeting, O’Leary defended his choice of words, stating that passengers are eager to avoid flying with “high-fare rapists” across Europe. When pressed on whether the language was appropriate, he responded affirmatively, adding that he was willing to offend major carriers such as British Airways and Lufthansa regularly.
The controversy began when O’Leary was asked about the potential offense to survivors of sexual assault. He characterized rape as a “terrible crime” but maintained that his remarks were directed at the pricing strategies of competitors, not at minimizing the severity of the offense itself.
The DRCC responded strongly, with chief executive Rachel Morrogh writing to O’Leary to express her dismay. She reported that the organization had received calls from rape victims who were left “upset and distressed” by the comments. Morrogh urged O’Leary to apologize and offered him training on the impact of sexual violence, noting that he would likely reconsider such language if he truly understood the experience of surviving rape.
O’Leary rejected the offer of training and the demand for an apology. “I am quite clear that no remarks of mine could possibly trivialise the heinous crime of rape,” he said, adding that because he did not believe he had trivialized the crime, he would not be apologizing.
The comments drew criticism from senior politicians as well. Ireland’s deputy premier, Simon Harris, described the language as “clearly inappropriate” and stated that O’Leary should have moved to rectify the situation. In the UK, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told LBC radio that victims of rape would not be inclined to book tickets with the Ryanair boss.
This incident adds to a history of blunt rhetoric from the Ryanair CEO. O’Leary has previously referred to some of his own employees as “lazy bastards” and famously told passengers seeking refunds that the airline did not want to hear their “sob stories.”
Does this man ever stop? His ‘lazy bastards’ comment was bad enough, but this is a new low for corporate cruelty.
Using rape as a marketing comparison is deeply offensive and trivializes survivors’ trauma. He needs to apologize immediately.