Pharrell Williams recently touched down in Australia to join the lineup of the current Future Music Festival tour. Following an interview with Jules Lund, Merrick Watts, and Sophie Monk at 2DayFM, the rapper and super-producer came face to face with two icons of Australian ockerism.
Controversial Australian politician Bob Katter, as famous for his love of Akubra hats as he is for his divisive political stances, presented Williams with his very own Akubra, saying, “Where I come from in Australia, everyone wears hats like yours. So we’re going to give you an Australian Akubra.”
Williams has developed a well-documented affinity for large hats, premiering his new sartorial attraction at the Grammy Awards in January and subsequently donning the unique accessory at several public appearances, including a performance at the recent Oscars ceremony.
“Very nice to meet you and thank-you so much,” Williams told Katter as he inspected the new addition to his growing headwear collection. Williams’ Grammy hat recently sold for $44,100 at a charity auction and Katter mentioned to Pharrell that his hats have also been raffled off for charity.
After Lund joked that the money from Katter’s raffles was used to buy booze for himself, a shocked Pharrell, not used to the chummy rapport Aussies enjoy with their local MPs, turned to the camera and asked “What’s happening right now?” before finishing off the somewhat awkward encounter.
The meeting between Williams and Katter has already made its way onto social media, with many already producing memes based on a photo taken of the two standing with the three radio hosts. “Pleasure saying G’day to Pharrell & giving him my hat – you will wear it well mate,” tweeted Katter.
Watch: Pharrell Williams Meets Bob Katter
