Rugby World Cup Ambassador’s Comments Disgusting

Young Labour is disgusted by the offensive comments made by current Rugby World Cup Ambassador Andy Haden in relation to women “targeting” sports stars to seek compensation for false rape claims and is calling for Haden’s immediate resignation.

Haden, who featured on the television programme ‘Deaker on Sport’ on Wednesday, made these comments in reference to the backlash surrounding claims that former All Black Robin Brooks had non-consensual sex with a teenage girl and offered her money for silence.

Mr Haden stated on the programme that "There's a bloke called Hugh Grant. He got into a bit of trouble like this and I think if the cheque bounces sometimes, they only realise that they've been raped, you know, sometimes" and that "It's an equal society now, some of these girls are targeting rugby players and targeting sportsmen and they do so at their peril today, I think."

Young Labour President Analiese Jackson was horrified to hear such comments from a high profile Rugby World Cup ‘Ambassador’.

“To claim on national television that young women who bravely speak up about being sexually assaulted by high profile sportsmen are doing so for money is sick and offensive” said Jackson.

“Mr Haden’s comments this week are a modern equivalent of the classical misogynist line ‘she was asking for it’. No woman ever seeks to be sexually assaulted.”

“Women have a right to safety, respect, and to voice complaints free of harassment. Mr Haden has demonstrated his complete ignorance and he must subsequently lose his job.”

According to Rape Crisis New Zealand, it is estimated that 1 in 4 females and 1 in 8 males are likely to experience Sexual Violence or Abuse in their lifetimes, many before the age of 16.

“There is no doubt in my mind that the Government need to remove all of Haden’s World Cup ambassadorial privileges. Not to do so would be an offense to all women in New Zealand” concluded Jackson.

ENDS

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