In brief
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has issued a public apology for remarks he made about popstar Kylie Minogue during a podcast interview with comedian Nikki Osborne. In the interview, Albanese was asked to place celebrities into a “shag, marry or date” scenario, leading him to comment that “Oh, Kylie, clearly.” The comments were quickly condemned by MPs and commentators, who described them as disrespectful, sexist and damaging to the office of the prime minister. Albanese’s apology was issued with the word “unequivocally,” while other political figures defended the government’s commitment to gender equality. The incident sparked a broader conversation about gender politics and media conduct in Australian politics.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has publicly apologized for remarks he made about singer Kylie Minogue during a podcast interview, saying the comments were “unquestionably” inappropriate.
The controversy erupted after Albanese appeared on the “Bush Deep” podcast hosted by comedian Nikki Osborne. As part of a light‑hearted segment, Osborne asked the prime minister to slot well‑known personalities—Kylie Minogue, Nicole Kidman and Rhonda Burchmore—into a “shag, marry or date” framework. A brief pause turned into a flippant remark when Albanese, after an initial attempt to sidestep the question, said, “Oh, Kylie, clearly.”
Union and political leaders quickly condemned the statements. Several Members of Parliament described the comments as “entirely inappropriate,” while others criticised them as disrespectful to women and a demeaning portrayal of the prime minister’s post. Shadow minister Sarah Henderson accused the remarks of being sexist and embarrassing to Australians.
Albanese’s response came as a one‑sentence statement reading, “I apologize unequivocally for the comments.” He said the remarks were made during a weekend interview at the official residence in Canberra and that, “All of the above,” he had said about Kylie, “she’s terrific.”
In the same interview, Albanese was asked about the worst gift he had received on a foreign trip. He recalled receiving two melons from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, which Osborne compared humorously to a celebrity in a light‑hearted manner.
Beyond the apology, Cabinet officials, such as acting PM Richard Marles, highlighted the government’s historic gender balance, noting that it had the first cabinet in Australia with an equal number of men and women. The incident has reignited discussions about gender, language, and the standards expected of public figures.
