The Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has apologized for comments he made about pop star Kylie Minogue during an interview on the Bush Deep podcast.
Last week, Albanese appeared on the podcast and was asked by its host, comedian Nikki Osbourne, who he would "shag, marry, date" between Minogue, Oscar winner Nicole Kidman, and theatre actress Rhonda Burchmore. Albanese replied that he would "marry, shag, and date" Minogue, saying she was "terrific."
The comments drew criticism, including from Shadow Communications Minister Sarah Henderson, who described them as "disrespectful to women, embarrassing to Australians and demean the office of Prime Minister." Community Strong MP Zali Steggall also condemned the remarks, saying they were "entirely inappropriate" and that Albanese should have "learned to push back, lead by example and call it out as sexist."
However, not everyone took issue with the comments, with some fans defending Albanese's response as a joke. Labour Minister Tanya Plibersek also came to the Prime Minister's defense, saying that his record on gender equality was strong and that he was simply expressing his admiration for Minogue.
The interview also touched on Albanese's sex life, with Osbourne asking if he and his wife were still "bonking like rabbits." Albanese replied that they had time for intimacy, but only after watching a rugby match.
The Prime Minister's apology comes after widespread criticism of his comments, with many calling for him to be more mindful of his language and behavior.
