Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has issued an unequivocal public apology after facing widespread condemnation for sexually charged comments he made about global pop icon Kylie Minogue during a lighthearted podcast interview last week.
The controversial exchange unfolded during a recording of *Bush Deep*, a comedy podcast hosted by YouTube comedian Nikki Osborne, which took place inside the prime minister’s official Canberra residence over the weekend. Osborne, who bills herself as a “wildly inappropriate journalist” who poses questions mainstream interviewers would never dare to ask, asked Albanese to play the viral “shag, marry or date” game, assigning Minogue, fellow Australian A-lister Nicole Kidman and entertainer Rhonda Burchmore as the three options.
Albanese, who married his partner Jodie Haydon last November, just six months prior to the interview, initially attempted to deflect the question, noting he had only recently tied the knot. But after persistent pushing from Osborne, the prime minister relented, saying “Oh, Kylie, clearly.” When the host followed up to ask if he would choose Minogue for all three options, Albanese confirmed “All of the above,” adding that the popstar is “terrific.”
The comments quickly sparked a fierce backlash from politicians across the political spectrum, with critics labeling the remarks inappropriate, disrespectful to women and damaging to the integrity of the office of prime minister. Independent Community Strong MP Zali Steggall argued that the comments were entirely out of line, saying Albanese “needs to learn to push back, lead by example and call it out as sexist.” Shadow Communications Minister Sarah Henderson echoed the criticism in a post on social platform X, writing that the comments were “disrespectful to women, embarrassing to Australians and demean the office of Prime Minister.”
With Albanese currently traveling through the Pacific region, Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles defended the government’s track record on gender equity during an interview with ABC Radio National Breakfast. Marles emphasized that the current administration is “utterly committed” to advancing women’s standing in Australian society, and noted that Albanese’s cabinet is the first in Australian history to achieve gender parity between male and female ministers. “From time to time, we obviously do different interviews to the one we are doing now,” Marles added.
The controversy also included an additional awkward exchange during the same interview, when Osborne made a sexually charged comparison of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to 1990s pop culture icon Pamela Anderson after Albanogue mentioned Takaichi had gifted him two melons during an overseas visit.
Early on Monday, Albanese released a brief, one-line formal statement addressing the furore: “I apologise unequivocally for the comments.”