Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is facing calls to apologise over remarks he made about two crown melons gifted to him by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
The comments resurfaced after Japan’s former ambassador to Australia, Shingo Yamagami, described them as a “sexist joke” that insulted Takaichi and damaged the close relationship between the two countries.
During an appearance on the Bush Deep podcast, comedian Nikki Osborne joked about the melons presented to Albanese during Takaichi’s visit to Australia in May.
“She brought two… She just came in looking like Pamela Anderson,” Osborne said.
“She brought two, and they are beautiful,” Albanese responded.
Albanese then gestured near his chest while describing the crown melons as “pretty strange” gifts that “ended up being quite good”.
Yamagami criticised the remarks in an opinion piece published by The Australian, saying they “betrayed the close bond” between Japan and Australia.
“The last thing [Takaichi] expected was to be so casually mocked by the trusted leader of Japan’s special strategic partner,” he wrote.
Yamagami said crown melons are the “most prized fruit” in Japan and are “treasured as something special”, adding that a single melon can cost more than 30,000 yen ($188).
“So, prime minister, please enjoy Japan’s sweet and juicy melons without thinking about a woman’s anatomy, and instead focus on what our two countries must do together,” he said.
Albanese has rejected calls for an apology. When an opposition MP asked him on Tuesday to apologise for what was described as “foul-mouthed, classless comments about women”, he said he “rejected the assertion of the question”.
“Australia and Japan have never been closer. My government has taken our special strategic partnership to new heights,” Albanese said.
Australia’s opposition leader Angus Taylor also criticised the remarks as “insulting” and called for Albanese to make a personal apology.
Several Labor ministers have defended the prime minister, saying his comments had been misinterpreted.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said the remarks “were not intended to be interpreted the way that our political opponents and some media outlets are reporting”.
Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek described the criticism as “a completely unnecessary interpretation of what the prime minister said”.
The controversy is the latest to arise from Albanese’s appearance on the podcast. Last month, he apologised after responding to a question about Kylie Minogue, Nicole Kidman and Rhonda Burchmore with the words: “Kylie, clearly… all of the above”.
He later said: “I apologise unequivocally for the comments”.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
