Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese apologized on Monday for crude comments about Kylie Minogue he made during a comedy podcast, saying he regretted his response to a “shag, marry, or date” game that sparked backlash from female lawmakers and women’s rights advocates.
Albanese appeared on the Bush Deep podcast with comedian Nikki Osborne, who asked him which of three Australian female celebrities—Minogue, actress Nicole Kidman, or entertainer Rhonda Burchmore—he would marry, date, or “shag,” a vulgar Australian term for sex. After initially declining to answer because he had recently married his partner Jodie Haydon in November, Osborne pressed the question, and Albanese replied, “Kylie, clearly.”
When Osborne asked if he would marry, shag, and date Minogue, Albanese responded, “All of the above. She’s terrific.” The remarks were recorded at the prime minister’s official residence in Canberra and released at the end of last week.
In a one-line statement issued early Monday, Albanese said: “I apologize unequivocally for the comments.” The apology came after mounting criticism from across the political spectrum. Independent MP Zali Steggall called the remarks “entirely inappropriate” and said Albanese “needs to learn to push back, lead by example and call it out as sexist.” Shadow Communications Minister Sarah Henderson said the comments were “disrespectful to women, embarrassing to Australians and demean the office of Prime Minister.”
Osborne, known for posting crude comedy sketches on YouTube, describes herself as a “wildly inappropriate journalist” who asks “questions no one else would dare.” Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles, who was on a Pacific visit when the controversy erupted, told the ABC that the government remained “utterly committed” to the elevation of women in society, noting that Albanese’s administration was the first in Australian history to achieve equality in cabinet between men and women.
Sources
- BBC — Albanese’s apology and full details of the podcast exchange with Osborne, including his initial reluctance and follow-up responses
- Reuters — Confirmation of the apology, the crude remark, and criticism from women’s rights groups and opposition lawmakers
- The Guardian — Unequivocal apology statement and context on the podcast appearance
- The Independent — MP Zali Steggall’s criticism that comments were “entirely inappropriate”
- RTE.ie — Shadow Communications Minister Sarah Henderson’s statement that remarks were “disrespectful to women, embarrassing to Australians and demean the office of Prime Minister”
