Albanese Under Fire for 'Melons' Joke About Japan Leader
- On Monday, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor demanded Prime Minister Anthony Albanese personally apologize to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi over remarks he made about crown melons she gifted him earlier this year.
- During a Bush Deep podcast appearance, Albanese made a gesture in front of his chest while discussing the melons, which former Ambassador Shingo Yamagami described as 'insulting' and ignorant of the gift's cultural significance.
- Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek defended Albanese on Monday, arguing the comments were misinterpreted, while Liberal deputy leader Jane Hume called them 'grubby' and 'inappropriate.'
- One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce claimed the remarks were '100 per cent wrong,' marking the second time Albanese's podcast appearances have faced scrutiny after he apologized for comments about pop-star Kylie Minogue last month.
- Yamagami warned that mocking a 'special strategic partner' is dangerous in the current Indo-Pacific climate, noting Takaichi has already faced gendered derogatory comments during her tenure as prime minister of Japan.
57 Articles
57 Articles
Anthony Albanese joked in July about a melon gift from Japan's head of government Sanae Takaichi. An ex-ambassador sees sexism in it – and now calls the opposition to the plan.
Japan brushes off Australian PM's melon drama
"We are aware of the reporting in the media. We have been informed by the Australian side that Prime Minister Albanese did not make the comments in the way that has been reported," a Japanese government statement said. "In any case, the dinner hosted by Prime Minister Albanese during the Prime Minister's visit to Australia this May was held in a very relaxed atmosphere, and we believe it helped build a personal trust relationship between the two…
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanage has come under fire for a sexist hand gesture he made while mentioning a gift from the Japanese Prime Minister on a comedy podcast. Despite demands for an apology from the opposition, the Prime Minister denied any malicious intent and emphasized the close cooperation between the two countries, while the Japanese government stated that the media had exaggerated the report.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is under fire over a sexually suggestive joke. And not about just anyone. Albanese made a joke about two melons he received as a gift from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. In the podcast Bush Deep, Albanese said, among other things, that the Japanese Prime Minister had brought a ‘couple of melons’. He refuses to apologize.
Albanese under fire over ‘melons’ gag about Takaichi
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese yesterday sidestepped calls to apologize after a clip emerged of him engaging in crude banter about a gift from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.Albanese had already faced a backlash and apologized over comments made during an interview last month wit
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