Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has issued an unequivocal apology after facing backlash for comments he made about pop star Kylie Minogue during a podcast interview. The remarks, which included references to his sex life with his wife, drew sharp criticism from opposition figures and some members of the public.
Comments on Podcast Spark Controversy
Last week, Albanese appeared on the Bush Deep podcast hosted by comedian Nikki Osbourne. During the 20-minute interview, Osbourne asked Albanese who he would “shag, marry, date” among Minogue, Oscar winner Nicole Kidman, and theatre actress Rhonda Burchmore. After initially noting he had only been married for six months, Albanese responded, “Oh, Kylie, clearly.” When pressed further, he said, “All of the above. She’s terrific.”
Osbourne also asked if he and his wife Jodie Haydon were still “bonking like rabbits.” Albanese replied, “Well, you know, when we have time,” and added that a win by the South Sydney Rabbitohs rugby team was “always a good aphrodisiac.”
Political Backlash
Shadow Communications Minister Sarah Henderson criticized the comments on X, writing: “Anthony Albanese’s whisky-fuelled comments on the ‘Deep Bush’ podcast are disrespectful to women, embarrassing to Australians and demean the office of Prime Minister.” Independent MP Zali Steggall called the remarks “entirely inappropriate,” stating that Albanese “needs to learn to push back, lead by example and call it out as sexist.”
One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce suggested, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, that the prime minister “has to be cleverer than that” and should have declined to answer such questions.
Apology Issued
On Monday, Albanese issued a statement saying, “I apologize unequivocally for the comments.” However, not everyone deemed an apology necessary. Some social media users defended him, with one commenting on Instagram: “PM just played along here. Nothing wrong with this.” Another wrote: “Are we even Australian anymore? C’mon take a joke.”
Labour Minister Tanya Plibersek defended Albanese’s record on gender equality, telling Channel Seven: “What I’d say on women’s equality in this country is no government’s been better for it, and no prime minister’s been better for it.” She added that if the prime minister is a fan of Kylie Minogue, he is in good company with millions of other Australians.
Other Controversial Moments
During the same interview, Osbourne asked Albanese about the worst gift he had received on an overseas trip. He mentioned a gift of two melons from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Osbourne then asked, “She just came in looking like Pamela Anderson?” as Albanese smiled and made a gesture in front of his chest. Minogue has not publicly responded to the comments.
