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SYDNEY – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese apologised on Monday after making a crude remark about singer Kylie Minogue in a comedy podcast interview, prompting outrage from women’s rights groups and opposition lawmakers.
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Albanese was asked by host Nikki Osborne which of three Australian female celebrities he would marry, date or “shag” – a vulgar term in Australia referring to sex.
Albanese initially declined to respond, saying he was recently married, but Osborne pressed, asking who he would choose if his marriage broke down, and Albanese replied, “Kylie, clearly.”
“You’d marry Kylie, and shag her, and date her?” Osborne said.
“All of the above,” Albanese replied.
Albanese was criticised by several opposition lawmakers, with senator Sarah Henderson saying the comments were “disrespectful to women, embarrassing to Australians and demean the office of Prime Minister.”
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“I apologise unequivocally for the comments,” Albanese said in a statement on Monday.
A spokesperson for Minogue did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Australia is famed for its informal culture, and politicians in the country are frequently quizzed during interviews on issues including pop culture and sport.
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(Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Sydney; Editing by Kate Mayberry)
Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.