Rocker Chrissie Hynde finds herself under major attack this week after comments she made to The Sunday Times about a sexual assault that took place over four decades ago. In short, the Pretenders lead singer says she’s the one to blame for getting raped. Saying she takes “full responsibility” for what happened when she was 21, Hynde explains: “If I’m walking around in my underwear and I’m drunk. Who else’s fault can it be?. Technically speaking, however you want to look at it, this was all my doing and I take full responsibility.” Hynde detailed how she was forced to perform sexual acts on members of an Ohio motorcycle gang after they promised to take her to a party… yet instead brought her to an abandoned house to have their way with her. “If I’m walking around and I’m very modestly dressed and I’m keeping to myself and someone attacks me, then I’d say that’s his fault,” she continued. “But if I’m being very lairy and putting it about and being provocative, then you are enticing someone who’s already unhinged – don’t do that. Come on! That’s just common sense.” The artist basically shrugged and said she didn’t think this was a “controversial’ viewpoint, but many others disagree. “Victims of sexual violence should never feel or be made to feel that they were responsible for the appalling crime they suffered – regardless of circumstances or factors which may have made them particularly vulnerable,” said Lucy Hastings, director of an organization called Victim Support says. “They should not blame themselves or be blamed for failing to prevent an attack – often they will have been targeted by predatory offenders who are responsible for their actions.” Numerous Twitters users have also called out Hynde for what should be an obvious reason: Wearing something racy may understandably subject one to a few catcalls. But that’s a very long way from rape.
OK, we have reached the Final 16. Now remember fellas, this is a bikini showdown. Not a popularity contest. So make sure to vote with your wang and not your heart. Some of these will be odd pairings and a few of you will get upset calling them mismatches. But remember this is the most important competition on the web and whoever wins, will probably be the next love interest in some superhero blockbuster movie. And will most likely not thank us for making it happen. Today, we have long shot cutie Rachel Bilson vs. curvy Brit Kelly Brook. Yes an odd pairing but because we’re still so early in the competition we have to say good bye to the pretenders. So make sure to vote by commenting your choice below . Top 16 Round 1 Contestants Rachel Bilson Kelly Brook Round 16 Winner Sara Jean Underwood defeats Hilary Duff View past Bikini Showdowns
OK, we have reached the Final 16. Now remember fellas, this is a bikini showdown. Not a popularity contest. So make sure to vote with your wang and not your heart. Some of these will be odd pairings and a few of you will get upset calling them mismatches. But remember this is the most important competition on the web and whoever wins, will probably be the next love interest in some superhero blockbuster movie. And will most likely not thank us for making it happen. Today, we have long shot cutie Rachel Bilson vs. curvy Brit Kelly Brook. Yes an odd pairing but because we’re still so early in the competition we have to say good bye to the pretenders. So make sure to vote by commenting your choice below . Top 16 Round 1 Contestants Rachel Bilson Kelly Brook Round 16 Winner Sara Jean Underwood defeats Hilary Duff View past Bikini Showdowns
We take a look at what the semifinalists need to do to stay in the race. By Eric Ditzian “American Idol” top 13 Photo: FOX Word on the reality-show street is, Wednesday’s (March 9) “American Idol” theme will have the top 13 contestants singing the tunes of artists they worship, but that’s the farthest we’ll drive into spoiler territory. Producers made the decision to pretape the performance episode , and while the Web is rife with info about what went down during the show, we’ve chosen to avoid all that. What’s the fun in reading about a reality competition before actually seeing it? So diving into the upcoming episode with only past shows to inform us, let’s take a look at each singer: who we’re excited about, who we honestly don’t care for and who better step it up or risk getting the boot on Thursday night. Ashthon Jones The 25-year-old has a whole lotta potential, but as someone wiser than us once said, potential just means you ain’t done sh– yet. Jones displayed boatloads of confidence and stage presence last week, yet never set sail toward the front of the “Idol” pack. She’s got some R&B gifts, but something about her take on Monica’s “Love All Over Me” felt too self-consciously like she was reaching for a diva moment. Ashthon, you’re not quite there yet. There’s a reason the judges had to use a wild card to save you. Show us your fun, energetic side first. Win some voters over. Wait a few more weeks before going diva again. Casey Abrams This kid has two things going for him: a free-wheeling, blues- and soul-infused instrument and a likable, everydude demeanor. Whether he’s too quirky to win the whole shebang (see: Bowersox, Crystal) is an open question. But there’s no doubting he’s a fan favorite, and even if his new performance doesn’t even approach his eyebrow-raising take on Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put a Spell on You,” Abrams will be safe. We think we can count on him bringing the blues on Wednesday. Let’s see if he can tone down the growls a bit. Haley Reinhart Hey, we didn’t feel her rendition of Alicia Keys’ “Fallin’,” but America clearly did, voting her through to the next round. If she delivers another performance with notes that ping-pong across the musical scale, she might be in trouble. Like Jones, we encourage Haley to dial back the diva-tude and realize she’s never going to out-belt someone like Keys. Song choice will be the key to her survival, or lack thereof. Jacob Lusk Last week, we argued that while Lusk is potentially on the brink of a breakout performance, he’s not quite there; there was something simply too old-fashioned about it. Though a Luther Vandross tune is already on his “Idol” r
We take a look at what the semifinalists need to do to stay in the race. By Eric Ditzian “American Idol” top 13 Photo: FOX Word on the reality-show street is, Wednesday’s (March 9) “American Idol” theme will have the top 13 contestants singing the tunes of artists they worship, but that’s the farthest we’ll drive into spoiler territory. Producers made the decision to pretape the performance episode , and while the Web is rife with info about what went down during the show, we’ve chosen to avoid all that. What’s the fun in reading about a reality competition before actually seeing it? So diving into the upcoming episode with only past shows to inform us, let’s take a look at each singer: who we’re excited about, who we honestly don’t care for and who better step it up or risk getting the boot on Thursday night. Ashthon Jones The 25-year-old has a whole lotta potential, but as someone wiser than us once said, potential just means you ain’t done sh– yet. Jones displayed boatloads of confidence and stage presence last week, yet never set sail toward the front of the “Idol” pack. She’s got some R&B gifts, but something about her take on Monica’s “Love All Over Me” felt too self-consciously like she was reaching for a diva moment. Ashthon, you’re not quite there yet. There’s a reason the judges had to use a wild card to save you. Show us your fun, energetic side first. Win some voters over. Wait a few more weeks before going diva again. Casey Abrams This kid has two things going for him: a free-wheeling, blues- and soul-infused instrument and a likable, everydude demeanor. Whether he’s too quirky to win the whole shebang (see: Bowersox, Crystal) is an open question. But there’s no doubting he’s a fan favorite, and even if his new performance doesn’t even approach his eyebrow-raising take on Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put a Spell on You,” Abrams will be safe. We think we can count on him bringing the blues on Wednesday. Let’s see if he can tone down the growls a bit. Haley Reinhart Hey, we didn’t feel her rendition of Alicia Keys’ “Fallin’,” but America clearly did, voting her through to the next round. If she delivers another performance with notes that ping-pong across the musical scale, she might be in trouble. Like Jones, we encourage Haley to dial back the diva-tude and realize she’s never going to out-belt someone like Keys. Song choice will be the key to her survival, or lack thereof. Jacob Lusk Last week, we argued that while Lusk is potentially on the brink of a breakout performance, he’s not quite there; there was something simply too old-fashioned about it. Though a Luther Vandross tune is already on his “Idol” r
Cover of the Pretenders’ ‘I’ll Stand By You’ secures her spot in top 13. By Gil Kaufman Pia Toscano Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images It’s easy to think big when you’re the underdog. And that’s definitely the position New Jersey “American Idol” auditioner Pia Toscano is coming from. After wowing America last week and earning a spot in the finals, Toscano spoke to MTV News at Thursday night’s post-elimination bash about her plans for putting together a successful run on the show. “I definitely want to have those big ballads. Since I was a little girl, I’ve always taken to those huge voices: Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey. So I definitely want to bring that back,” she said of her plan to stick to the strategy that got her where she is now. “But I also want to have those fun dance hits as well.” After flying mostly under the radar so far this season, the raven-haired singer made headlines Wednesday when she performed a stunning cover of the Pretenders’ “I’ll Stand By You,” which stole the thunder of the rest of the female competitors that night and locked in her place in the top 13. Toscano, 21, was stunned by the reaction from the audience and the judges following her performance. Holding her hands in front of her mouth as Randy Jackson reminded her of the standing ovation she had just received, she seemed floored when he told her that her performance immediately ranked among the best performances in the show’s history. “That was unbelievable,” Jackson told her. “That’s how you do it!” Steven Tyler, after invoking one of his nonsensical Tyler-isms (“You know, after Monday and Tuesday, even a week says WTF” — WTF??), agreed with Jackson’s assertion that she was “unbelievable,” adding as well that it was “gorgeous.” Jennifer Lopez kicked the praise up a notch, calling the performance “out of this world.” “You were saving that for when it counts!” she teased Toscano. Talk about saving your best for last. Toscano said that after not getting much screen time during the early rounds of the show, she was glad that she peaked before the final cut-down. “I felt like I never really showed all that I could do on the show, and I’m so happy that I did save it for when it counted,” she said. “I’ve grown so much as a person and as a vocalist throughout this competition, and I’m so happy that that was my moment to shine.” Toscano will have to prove that she’s more than a one-trick pony Wednesday, when the top 13 take the stage for the first round of live performance and results shows and get a taste of the pressure that comes with singing on live TV every week. Can Pia Toscano win “American Idol”? Sound off below! Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” every Thursday on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke. Get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty ! In the meantime, get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos ‘Idol Party Live’ With MTV News’ Jim Cantiello Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Performances
Experts weigh in on the top 12 women and their chances of making it through to the finals. By Gil Kaufman Pia Toscano Photo: Michael Becker / FOX Thursday night is when some “American Idol” dreams will come true, and a dozen or more will be crushed and sprinkled all across the seizure-inducing new IdolDome stage. But before all that carnage and celebration, we once again turned to some of our “Idol” experts to make some predictions about this season’s front-runners after the top 12 women did their thing on Wednesday night. Because he just can’t get enough of all things “Idol,” we turned to MTV News’ resident expert Jim Cantiello for his take on which ladies soared and which ones crashed and burned. Despite a few serious stinkers, JC said he continues to be shocked by the caliber of vocalists on the show this season. “You believe that these were the finest singers they found while on the road,” he said, noting two “atom-bomb-sized surprises” on Wednesday night. His first revelation was former housekeeper Lauren Turner, whose choice of Etta James’ “Seven Day Fool” he deemed perfect and full of attitude. “[She] stood out from the pack with her gravelly blues voice and in-your-face performance style,” he said. The other big surprise was show-closer Pia Toscano , the raven-haired beauty who sang the Pretenders’ “I’ll Stand by You,” which he said, “dug deep and showed off her pitch-perfect pipes. Her range was sick, she had confidence, she effortlessly hit some major power notes. America stood up and noticed, as did the judges, who gave her the first official standing ovation of season 10.” If he had to pick a stand-out front-runner, though, at this point, Cantiello is still going with 16-year-old sassafras Lauren Alaina. “[It’s her] race to lose,” he said. “She’s everything ‘Idol’ is looking for. [She] got up onstage and looked like she could have commanded a live audience 10 times bigger without flinching. She has stage presence, a powerful voice, and she has a unique ability to live somewhere in between R&B, pop and country.” And while he thought the Carrie Underwood/Kelly Clarkson comparisons from Randy Jackson were not off the mark, Cantiello wondered if Alaina’s need to always be the center of attention might start grating on voters’ nerves? As for the other 16-year-old, Jim said Thia Megia has great pitch and a large fanbase, but he just can’t “picture her at the Nokia, covered in confetti. Unless she steps up her personality.” A great measure of how polarizing “Idol” contestants can be is the list of hot prospects submitted by Top Idol blog founder Melinda Green. One of her favorite performances was from this year’s obligatory oddball, Rachel Zevita. Though the judges thought Zevita blew it with her jazzy, off key take on Fiona Apple’s “Criminal,” Green loved it. “I really hope we see more of her. Alas, I think the judges would prefer sending through Ashthon Jones,” Green said of the Nashville native with the giant, blow-out hairdo whose sultry cover of Monica’s “Love All Over Me” earned raves. Green wasn’t sipping the “Idol” juice, though. “Every performance I’ve seen of this girl has been the same tired R&B diva wannabe shtick we’re treated to every season,” she said. She also liked Naima Adedapo, but is looking for more personality from the Erykah Badu-like singer and clothing designer. Lamenting how many of Wednesday night’s singers opted for tunes we’ve heard a dozen times in past seasons, Green said Karen Rodriguez made it interesting by singing half of Mariah Carey’s “Hero” in Spanish, but wondered if it was a bit too obvious pandering to judge Jennifer Lopez. Green agreed with Cantiello that Alaina might start to strike some viewers as a “precocious coquette as taught by her stage mother” and said despite her “perfect tone,” Thia Megia may not have the emotional maturity to connect with the songs she’s singing. “With this year’s emphasis on youth and the show’s clear aim of getting a viable female winner, we’ll be forced to see more of both Thia and Lauren Alaina,” she lamented. Bottom line, Green agreed that Toscano can go far and just needs to show more personality and that Turner has the goods that could take her deep into the competition. “She’s got the kind of voice I love,” she said, agreeing with Randy Jackson’s description of Turner as a mix of Amy Winehouse and Florence Welch. “If ‘American Idol’ wants current, they best do everything they can to keep Lauren Turner around. She’s the real deal, no theatrics, just raw talent.” Do you agree with our experts? Who do you think is headed for elimination tonight? Let us know in the comments below! Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” at 10 p.m. Thursday on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty ! In the meantime, get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Performances
