Michael O’Leary, CEO of Ryanair, has declined to apologise to the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) after facing backlash for comments he made referencing rival airlines during a recent press briefing. His choice of words has drawn widespread criticism from both advocacy organisations and government representatives in Ireland and the UK, who are demanding both an apology and heightened awareness regarding the experiences of sexual violence survivors.
Strong Backlash in Response to O’Leary’s Language
Speaking to reporters before Ryanair’s annual shareholder meeting on Thursday, Michael O’Leary labelled competing airlines as “high-fare rapists” to illustrate his company’s lower prices. According to O’Leary, people are “desperate to get to Ryanair’s low fares because they can’t afford to fly with the high-fare rapists around Europe.” When questioned by the Press Association about whether he stood by his words, O’Leary replied “Absolutely,” and expressed no concern over potentially offending competitors such as British Airways or Lufthansa, adding he would “happily offend them on a regular basis.”
Pressed to consider the possible repercussions for victims of sexual assault, O’Leary called rape a “terrible crime,” but refrained from retracting his statement.
Advocates and Politicians Demand Accountability
Rachel Morrogh, chief executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, wrote a letter—obtained by the BBC—criticising O’Leary’s remarks and accusing him of using damaging language to generate media attention. She noted that the centre had been contacted by survivors who were hurt and distressed by his statements. Morrogh offered O’Leary training to help him understand the impact of sexual violence and commented, “I can’t imagine you would ever use the term so flippantly again if you truly understood what it was like to survive rape.”
The controversy also prompted reactions from political leaders. Simon Harris, Ireland’s deputy premier, labelled the language as “clearly an inappropriate use of language” and said O’Leary should have taken action to address it. UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told LBC that rape victims would be unlikely to support Ryanair in light of these remarks, observing, “let’s be honest.”
O’Leary Stands Firm—Rejects Apology and Training
In response to the widespread condemnation, Michael O’Leary reiterated his stance in communications with the DRCC. He asserted, “I am quite clear that no remarks of mine could possibly trivialise the heinous crime of rape.” Citing this view, he refused to apologise or participate in the suggested training, writing, “I will not be issuing any apology or accepting your offer of training,” and insisted that he did not make light of rape.
Previous Instances of Provocative Comments
O’Leary’s remarks echo earlier controversies. In 2004, he referred to the operators of Stansted Airport as “a bunch of overcharging rapists” during a dispute about airport fees. He has also described some Ryanair employees as “lazy bastards” and famously told customers requesting refunds, “we don’t want to hear your sob stories.”
In June, O’Leary announced that Ryanair would “reluctantly” stop charging parents to sit next to their children after an investigation by a watchdog, though he maintained that Ryanair’s policy had consistently followed legal rules.
This latest episode has brought renewed focus on the responsibility of public figures to use careful language—particularly when discussing sexual violence—as increased attention is paid to their handling of criticism and their treatment of those affected by their words.