Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has apologized for comments he made about pop star Kylie Minogue during an Australian comedy podcast last week. During the show, the prime minister was asked to play a "sleep, marry, date" game, choosing a local artist.

Albanese initially tried to sidestep the question, stating, "I've only been married for 6 months," but then responded, "Oh, definitely Kylie," referring to Minogue. Host Nikki Osborne then asked, "You'd marry Kylie, sleep with her, and date her?" "All three. She's great", Albanese replied.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra in February. *AFP*

These remarks quickly drew a wave of criticism. Independent MP Zali Steggall called the prime minister's participation in such a program "completely inappropriate", arguing he "should have known how to object and point out that the question was sexist". According to Steggall, Albanese's answer was "disrespectful to women, embarrassed Australians, and diminished the dignity of the prime minister".

Senior Liberal Party MP Andrew Bragg also stated that Albanese's comments were "unworthy of a prime minister". Another MP suggested the prime minister's actions showed a lack of consideration, leading to "disrespectful" remarks.

Amid increasing pressure, Albanese issued an apology on 6/7 in a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office. "I sincerely apologize for those remarks", he stated.

Australian pop star Kylie Minogue. *Instagram Kylie Minogue*

Beyond serious interviews with mainstream media, politicians increasingly turn to new media platforms and social media content creators to reach new audiences. This shift often leads to more informal interactions.

Minister Tanya Plibersek of the ruling Labor Party defended Albanese's record on promoting gender equality. She stated she had not heard the interview, but "if what the prime minister meant was simply that he is a fan of Kylie Minogue, then I think he is like millions of other Australians, including myself". She added on Channel Seven, "Regarding gender equality in this country, no government or prime minister has done better".

Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles, who was temporarily in charge while Albanese was on a trip to Fiji, also defended the country's leader. He suggested this was a "different" conversation compared to interviews politicians typically participate in. Marles highlighted Albanese's commitment to women's rights: "The first thing to say is that the prime minister has sincerely apologized. Sometimes we participate in interviews that are very different in nature", he stated. "The prime minister is leading the first government in Australian history with an equal number of men and women in the cabinet. This is also the first government with a majority of female members in the ruling party's parliamentary bloc. Under this administration, the gender pay gap has narrowed to its lowest level. The prime minister is fully committed to promoting the role and enhancing the status of women in society".

Kylie Minogue, 58, is beloved by the Australian public and dubbed the "Princess of Pop". She gained fame through her role in the long-running television series Neighbours before achieving success in her singing career, notably with the hit "Can't Get You Out of My Head".

Huyen Le (According to AFP, Guardian)