Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has issued an “unequivocal” apology after faceplanting into a comedy podcast booby trap and making a crass comment about Kylie Minogue. And now, naturally, the whole thing has now become a national discourse event.
The moment happened during an episode of Nikki Osborne’s Bush Deep pod (Nova), where Albo was asked to play a round of “shag, marry, date” involving Kylie Minogue, Nicole Kidman and Rhonda Burchmore.
Albo did initially tried to dodge the question, pointing out that he had “just got married” and was “only six months in”, before ultimately nominating Minogue for all three categories.
Asked to clarify whether he meant he would “marry Kylie and shag her and date her”, the PM replied: “All of the above.”
Following criticism from politicians including independent MP Zali Steggall and Liberal senator Sarah Henderson, Albanese issued a short statement apologising for the remarks.
“I apologise unequivocally for the comments,” he said.
To be clear: should the Prime Minister have simply declined to play a horny FM-radio party game involving three real women while appearing in an official-ish public capacity? Probs.
It was awkward. It was cringe. It was unnecessary. And it was very much the kind of thing a media adviser presumably hears in a nightmare before waking up drenched in cold sweat.
But the fallout has also produced one of the more ironic little culture-war loop-de-loops of the year.
Some of the same corners of Australia’s media landscape that have spent years railing against “wokeness”, “cancel culture” and the alleged death of Aussie larrikin humour have suddenly discovered a deep and urgent passion for decorum, feminist critique and respectful public language.
As arguably one of the most trusted news sources in the country, satirical comedy rag The Betoota Advocate warmly noted: “Overnight, the same media companies that have spent the best part of the last decade vilifying high-profile women like Julia Gillard and Lisa Wilkinson, have transformed into staunch defenders of feminist values – who object wholeheartedly to the sexualisation of Australia’s most beloved sex icon… ‘I Could Be So YUCKY’ reads the front page of the Gina Rinehart-owned far-right Australian tabloid newspaper, The Nightly, who have take a break from their round-the-clock coverage of Brittany Higgins’ personal life.”
As for Kylie herself, she has not commented publicly on the matter.
Further Reading
Re-Elected PM Albo Cheekily Dedicated A Song To Peter Dutton Live On Aussie Radio
Kylie Minogue Locked In To Headline 2026 AFL Grand Final Entertainment
triple j’s Hottest 100 Of Australian Songs: The Complete List
