Australian PM under fire for 'crude' joke about Takaichi melon gift

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has recently come under fire for a crude joke about a melon gift received from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during her visit to Australia last May. The controversy arose from a podcast interview Albanese gave on July 3, where he recalled Takaichi presenting him with a couple of melons, gesturing with his hands. In response, a podcast host jokingly remarked that Takaichi had arrived "looking like Pamela Anderson," a reference to the actress known for her large breasts.

Albanese's reply, "She brought two, and they were beautiful," has been widely interpreted as a reference to Takaichi's anatomy. Opposition lawmakers have demanded an apology from Albanese to Takaichi, with the Australian Newspaper reporting the remarks as a clear sexual innuendo. In response to an opposition lawmaker's question during a parliamentary session, Albanese dismissed the assertion as false.

Japanese Ambassador to Australia Kazuhiro Suzuki stated that the Japanese government was aware of the media reports regarding the podcast incident. He claimed that Albanese did not make the comments as reported. Suzuki noted that the dinner hosted by Albanese during Takaichi's visit took place in a relaxed atmosphere, fostering a personal trust relationship between the two leaders.