Australian Prime Minister Denies Knowing About Podcast Game

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese avoided a question about a joke on a podcast.

In short:

The prime minister did not answer questions about jokes with sexual meanings on a podcast.

Anthony Albanese said he does not do interviews with his arms crossed, after making hand gestures on a podcast.

Mr Albanese said he did not know he would play a game on the podcast.

The prime minister denied knowing about a game on a podcast, despite the host saying he must have known.

Anthony Albanese said he and his office did not know about a game on a podcast episode.

Mr Albanese said sorry for his remarks last month.

The prime minister said sorry to Kylie Minogue for his remarks.

The podcast host said Mr Albanese and his staff knew about the game on the podcast.

But Mr Albanese denied this claim at a press conference.

The host plays a game with all her podcast guests.

She said Mr Albanese knows her podcast and what to expect.

He knew the game was coming, she said.

The host said Mr Albanese accepted her invitation to the podcast quickly.

The prime minister does not do interviews with his arms crossed.

Mr Albanese defended his hand gestures on the podcast, talking about melons given by Japan's prime minister.

He avoided questions about a joke about Japan's prime minister looking like Pamela Anderson.

Mr Albanese did not take responsibility for the conversation's tone.

He said he is responsible for his words, and none of his words were criticized.

Mr Albanese said he always uses hand gestures during interviews.

He said the interpretation of his gestures was not correct, and the Japanese ambassador agreed.

Mr Albanese said he already apologized for parts of the podcast.

He avoided answering a question about appearing on a podcast with sexual jokes.

He said he does many interviews and talks to people he does not always agree with.

Mr Albanese apologized for parts of the podcast.

The prime minister is under pressure to apologize to Japan's prime minister for his remarks.

Despite parliament returning, Mr Albanese had not held a press conference until Friday.

Japan's government commented on Mr Albanese's hand gestures, which they thought were a joke about their prime minister.

Mr Albanese said he already apologized for parts of the podcast.

He did not apologize for the melon interaction and said his gestures were misinterpreted.

Japanese officials mostly avoided commenting on the matter.

But Japan's ambassador said his government was aware of the media reports.

He said the Australian side told them Mr Albanese did not make the comments as reported.

The ambassador said a dinner between the two leaders helped build a personal trust relationship.

A former Japanese ambassador had a difficult relationship with the Australian Labor party.

See more ABC coverage.

Promotion