Loading…
Saturday, September 19Saturday, September 19
Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O’Leary issued an apology on Friday for comparing rival airlines to “high-fare rapists” during a press briefing in Dublin last week, reversing his initial refusal to back down.
In a video message, O’Leary said he had realized his “careless” language caused “considerable upset and offence,” particularly to survivors of sexual violence. “I want to apologise, sincerely and unreservedly, to those people, especially to the survivors,” he said. “I am truly sorry for the offence and upset I have caused you by my careless use of those words. It won’t happen again.”
The apology followed sustained criticism from advocacy groups, including the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, which had publicly urged him to retract the remarks. British Transport Minister Heidi Alexander also weighed in, telling LBC radio that women who survived sexual violence would be unlikely to book flights with Ryanair after the comments.
O’Leary had initially defended the comparison, stating that rape was a “heinous and terrible crime which cannot be trivialised.” He repeated the phrase in subsequent interviews, including one with the Press Association, where he said he was “happy to offend” competitors like British Airways and Lufthansa over their pricing.
The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre’s chief executive, Rachel Morrogh, had previously written to O’Leary, accusing him of trivializing rape and offering training on the impact of sexual violence. O’Leary had declined, insisting his remarks did not diminish the gravity of the crime.
Ryanair confirmed it had no further comment beyond O’Leary’s statement.
Follow us for live European news
2 further sources not geolocated
Șeful Ryanair își cere scuze după comparația cu „violatorii: „Cuvintele mele au provocat suferință Michael OLeary, directorul general al Ryanair, și-a cerut scuze vineri victimelor și supraviețuitoarelor violențelor sexuale după ce a folosit termenul „violatori cu tarife ridicate pentru a descrie companiile aeriene concurente.
adevarul · about 2 hours ago
Ryanair-topman biedt dan toch zijn excuses aan nadat hij concurrenten duur vliegende verkrachters noemde
de morgen · about 2 hours ago
English football club apologises for launching United 93 merchandise close to 9/11 anniversary Oxford United said the range was released without understanding of the historical context and associations.
thejournal · about 3 hours ago
Provost: "Renault es en España mucho más que un fabricante de coches" El CEO del grupo Renault destaca la aportación que hace el grupo a la economía española, con colaboraciones con empresas como Gestamp o Iberdrola. Leer
expansion · about 3 hours ago
Toch excuses van topman Ryanair omdat hij concurrenten verkrachters noemde Ryanair-topman Michael OLeary heeft alsnog zijn excuses aangeboden voor het gebruik van het woord "verkrachters". De topman van de Ierse budgetvlieger gebruikte dat woord om concurrerende maatschappijen te omschrijven vanwege hun hoge tarieven.
nu.nl · about 3 hours ago
Converse apologized for ad that people compared to lynching, Ku Klux Klan imagery In a statement, the footwear company said the image was "deeply unsettling."
snopes · about 3 hours ago
Ex-Apollo executive admits to improperly using company documents Imran Siddiqui had been sued by buyout groups Athene unit over his rival start-up
financial times · about 3 hours ago
Ryanair chief Michael OLeary apologises over describing competitors as rapists Ryanair chief truly sorry over careless use of words after hearing from survivors
irish times · about 3 hours ago
Șeful Ryanair își cere scuze după ce i-a numit „violatori pe concurenții de pe piață din cauza „tarifelor ridicate CEO-ul Ryanair, Michael OLeary, a prezentat scuze, vineri, pentru că a comparat companiile aeriene concurente cu „violatorii, recunoscând că afirmațiile sale au provocat „o supărare considerabilă. Miliardarul a fost criticat de politicieni din Irlanda și Regatul Unit, după ce a spus că este „absolut adecvat să compare companiile aeriene concurente cu „violatorii. Organizații care reprezintă …
hotnews.ro · about 3 hours ago
"Violeurs aux vols de luxe": le CEO de Ryanair présente finalement ses excuses Le CEO de la compagnie aérienne low-cost Ryanair, Michael OLeary, a finalement présenté ses excuses pour sa comparaison entre les autres compagnies aériennes et les violeurs. ...
la libre · about 3 hours ago
Ryanairs Michael OLeary apologises unreservedly after calling some airlines high-fare rapists In a video message posted today, Michael OLeary acknowledged that the remarks caused considerable upset and offence.
thejournal · about 3 hours ago
Oxford United apologises after United 93 shirt sparks 9/11 backlash Oxford United has apologised and withdrawn a new clothing range after it emerged that a shirt bearing the words United 93 referenced the call sign of one of the aircraft hijacked in the 11 September 2001 attacks. The design had been intended to mark the clubs founding year of 1893, but the League One side […]
cyprus mail · about 3 hours ago
Ryanair boss Michael OLeary apologises over high-fare rapists remarks OLeary described his choice of language as "careless" and said "it wont happen again".
bbc · about 3 hours ago
"Guy Ullens était allé présenter des excuses à Didier Reynders. Cela a été un discrédit absolu pour son fils" Jean-Philippe Mayence, lavocat de Nicolas Ullens, sexprime sur le procès qui ouvre dès la semaine prochaine dans une interview avec Paris Match. ...
la libre · about 4 hours ago