Australia's prime minister, Anthony Albanese, apologized on Monday for suggestive comments he made about the pop star Kylie Minogue during a podcast, after the remarks circulated online and drew criticism that they demeaned his office.
What was said
The comments came on the comedian Nikki Osborne's podcast "Bush Deep," recorded on July 3, during a rapid-fire game in which Albanese was asked which of several Australian entertainers, among them Minogue, the actress Nicole Kidman and the singer Rhonda Burchmore, he would "shag, marry or date." Pressed to choose, Albanese picked Minogue, and when the host summarized the pairing he replied, "All of the above," TIME reported.
The apology
By Monday, with the exchange spreading on social media, Albanese moved to draw a line under it. "I apologise unequivocally for the comments," he said, as CNN reported. He did not elaborate at length, and his office sought to move past the episode.
The reaction
The remarks drew criticism from the opposition. Senator Sarah Henderson of the Liberal Party said they were "disrespectful to women, embarrassing to Australians and demean the office of Prime Minister," RTÉ reported. Others played down the moment as loose talk in an informal setting.
Minogue, one of Australia's best-known cultural exports, had not publicly responded as of Monday. The episode is a rare stumble for Albanese, whose government has emphasized standards of conduct toward women, and it prompted a familiar debate over how much latitude politicians should expect when they trade the podium for a comedian's microphone.
