Anthony Albanese apologises ‘unequivocally’ for podcast comment about Kylie Minogue

The Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese has apologised for his comments in a podcast where he picked Kylie Minogue in a game of ‘shag marry date’. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP View image in fullscreen The Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese has apologised for his comments in a podcast where he picked Kylie Minogue in a game of ‘shag marry date’. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP Anthony Albanese apologises ‘unequivocally’ for podcast comment about Kylie Minogue Prime minister picked pop singer in game of ‘shag, marry, date’ on comedy podcast Anthony Albanese has apologised “unequivocally” for his comments while playing a “shag, marry, date” game on a comedy podcast when he nominated Kylie Minogue for all three categories. The prime minister issued a statement on Monday morning after receiving criticism at the weekend for his appearance on the Bush Deep podcast with the comedian Nikki Osborne. Amid a lighthearted interview released late last week, in which topics included Albanese’s dog and gifts he’d received from world leaders, the host asked Albanese in a “rapid fire” question round to place Kylie Minogue , Nicole Kidman and Rhonda Burchmore in a “shag, marry, date” game. Albanese was initially reluctant, responding: “I just got married, I’m only six months in.” Osborne replied: “But if it goes tits up, let’s just pretend.” Albanese then responded: “Kylie, clearly.” Osborne persisted: “You’d marry Kylie, and shag her, and date her?” Albanese replied “all of the above”, adding: “She’s terrific.” In another part of the interview, Osborne asked whether Albanese and his wife, Jodie Haydon, were “bonking like rabbits”. Albanese replied jokingly: “Well, when we have time. “After the footy. It’s always a good aphrodisiac, a Souths [Sydney Rabbitohs] win.” Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email On Monday morning the prime minister’s office released a one-line statement from Albanese, in which he said: “I apologise unequivocally for the comments.” In addition to more serious interviews with mainstream media platforms, politicians are increasingly seeking to engage with new media outlets and social media creators in order to reach new audiences. Politicians across the political spectrum regularly conduct more lighthearted interviews with podcasters and online channels, as well as FM radio networks. Almost no one is happy with Labor’s gambling crackdown. Albanese may as well do the right thing and get tough Read more Albanese was in Fiji on Monday for a leader’s meeting with the country’s prime minister, Sitiveni Rabuka. He was due to travel to Solomon Islands this week to meet that country’s leader, before returning to Brisbane to host the leaders of Tonga and Papua New Guinea at the rugby league State of Origin decider. He was reportedly criticised by politicians including the independent Zali Steggall and the Liberal shadow minister Sarah Henderson for the podcast comments. The Australian newspaper reported that Steggall had sai