Australia’s prime minister has apologized after a comment about Kylie Minogue on a comedy podcast ended up becoming a state matter. Anthony Albanese has had to make a public correction after participating in a “shag, marry, date” type game, in which he ended up choosing Kylie for the three options.
The scene took place on the Bush Deep podcast, where presenter Nikki Osborne asked him to divide the categories between Kylie Minogue, Nicole Kidman and the artist Rhonda Burchmore. Albanese tried to avoid the question, but ended up giving up: «Kylie, clearly… All three. “It’s fantastic,” he responded with a laugh.
What seemed like an anecdote has made headlines over the weekend. Opposition politicians and even independent deputies have criticized the fact that a prime minister has participated in such a game, calling it sexist and unbecoming of the position. Independent MP Zali Steggall has assured that she should have rejected the proposal, while the Liberal Party has described her comments as “disrespectful of women” and “shameful for Australia.”
Albanese’s response arrived this Monday and was brief but forceful: “I apologize unreservedly for the comments,” his office said in a one-sentence statement.
Their own Government has tried to reduce the controversy by remembering that it was a humor podcast and that the format was very different from that of a conventional political interview. One of the Labor ministers has even come to her defense, pointing out that being a fan of Kylie Minogue she shares it with millions of people.
The controversy, by the way, has coincided with the release of new music by Kylie Minogue: a collaboration with Snow Patrol titled ‘These Alarms’ that returns the Australian to the rock side she explored in the 90s.
