Ryanair boss apologises for calling rival airlines 'rapists'
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Neutral summary
Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has apologised “sincerely and unreservedly” for calling competitor airlines, including British Airways, Aer Lingus and Lufthansa, “high-fare rapists” during a press conference last week. In a video message posted on social media on Friday, 18 September, he said the comments caused “considerable upset and offence” to many people, particularly victims and survivors of sexual violence. O’Leary said that through conversations with family and friends inside and outside Ryanair over the past ten days, he had come to realise that his careless use of the word had caused deep distress. He described his language as “careless” and said “it won’t happen again”. The apology marked a reversal from his earlier stance, when he defended the remarks in a letter to Rachel Morrogh, head of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, saying he had called rape “a heinous crime” and had not trivialised it. Morrogh had demanded a “swift apology to survivors of rape and sexual violence”, and politicians in both Ireland and the UK had criticised the comments. According to TheJournal.ie, O’Leary also said in his video that rape is “a heinous crime that cannot be trivialised”.
How it was framed
Outlets: 15. Countries: 5. Facts in the shared core: 5.
Publication timeline
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RTÉ News (outlet profile)
O'Leary apologises 'unreservedly' over 'rapist' comments. The Chief Executive of Ryanair Michael O'Leary has apologised "sincerely and unreservedly" for using the term "rapist" in reference to the airline's competitors.
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GB News (outlet profile)
Ryanair chief issues grovelling apology for comparing rival airlines to 'rapists'. Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary has issued a grovelling apology for previously comparing competitor airlines to "rapists". During a video…
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The Mirror (outlet profile)
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary finally apologises after calling rival airlines 'rapists'. Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has apologised for describing airlines including British Airways and Aer Lingus as 'high-fare rapists'…
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TheJournal.ie (outlet profile)
Ryanair's Michael O'Leary apologises 'unreservedly' after calling some airlines 'high-fare rapists'. In a video message posted today, Michael O’Leary acknowledged that the remarks caused ‘considerable upset and offence’.
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Evening Standard (outlet profile)
Ryanair boss apologises over ‘rapists’ comment. The billionaire was heavily criticised by politicians after he said it was ‘absolutely’ appropriate to describe competitor airlines as ‘rapists’.
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Belfast Telegraph (outlet profile)
Ryanair boss apologises over ‘rapists’ comment
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Belfast Telegraph (outlet profile)
‘I am truly sorry’: Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary apologises for comparing competitors to ‘high-fare rapists’
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The National (Scotland) (outlet profile)
Ryanair boss apologises over ‘rapists’ comment after widespread criticism. RYANAIR chief Michael O’Leary has issued an apology for previously comparing competitor airlines to “rapists”, saying it has caused “considerabl…
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The Independent (outlet profile)
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary finally apologises for ‘rapists’ comments about rival airlines
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Daily Mail (outlet profile)
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary apologises for calling other airlines including British Airways and Lufthansa 'rapists'. Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has apologised 'sincerely and unreservedly' after comparing c…
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BBC News (outlet profile)
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary apologises over 'high-fare rapists' remarks. O'Leary described his choice of language as "careless" and said "it won't happen again".
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Le Parisien (outlet profile)
« Un crime odieux qui ne peut pas être banalisé » : le patron de Ryanair s’excuse après sa sortie sur les « violeurs »
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WalesOnline (outlet profile)
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary apologises for 'offensive' rapist comparison. Michael O'Leary has admitted his words have 'caused wide, considerable upset and offence to a wide number of people'
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DW (Deutsche Welle) (outlet profile)
Ryanair boss apologizes for calling other airlines 'rapists'. The airline CEO had used the term to describe other airlines with high fares. His comments were criticized by officials both in Ireland and the UK.
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New York Post (outlet profile)
Ryanair CEO apologizes for comparing rival European airlines to ‘rapists’ in wild rant. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary apologized Friday for bizarrely comparing rival European airlines that charge high prices to “rapists”…
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Belfast Telegraph (outlet profile)
Robinson to make plea not to ‘gift wrap seats’ to Sinn Fein and Alliance
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Belfast Telegraph (outlet profile)
Gavin Robinson plea not to ‘giftwrap seats’ to rival parties. The party’s annual conference takes place this weekend in Moneyreagh, Co Down
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CNews (outlet profile)
Ryanair : le patron s'excuse après avoir qualifié ses concurrents de «violeurs». Michael O'Leary, patron de Ryanair, a présenté ce vendredi 18 septembre ses excuses dans une vidéo sur les réseaux sociaux. Lors d'une con…
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Belfast Telegraph (outlet profile)
Split votes will take Northern Ireland in ‘wrong direction’, says Robinson
Factual core
- Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary apologized for calling rival airlines' passengers 'rapists'.
- The apology came in response to the criticism over O'Leary's comment.
- In the video, O'Leary said his comment caused 'considerable upset and offence'.
- O'Leary made the 'high-fare rapists' remark in a rant over fares.
- O'Leary's apology was delivered in a video message shared on Friday.