Ryanair boss O'Leary defends 'high-fare rapists' airlines remarks
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has refused to apologize for describing rival airlines as 'high-fare rapists' during a press event. The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and various political figures have condemned the remarks as inappropriate and insensitive to sexual assault survivors.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the ongoing tension between corporate leadership's provocative communication styles and public expectations for social responsibility and sensitivity.
Image source, Getty Images By Katy Austin , Transport correspondent and Mitchell Labiak , Business reporter Published 23 minutes ago Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has refused to apologise to a rape crisis centre which criticised him for describing rival airlines as "high-fare rapists".
Speaking to journalists, O'Leary said some people were "desperate to get to Ryanair's low fares because they can't afford to fly with the high-fare rapists around Europe".
O'Leary doubled-down on his choice of words when asked about them at the time, and later refused to apologise when the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) wrote to him asking for apology, in a letter seen by the BBC.
Ireland's deputy premier Simon Harris said it was "clearly an inappropriate use of language" and that O'Leary "should have moved to rectify it".
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