Politicians’ lewd behaviour round celebrities – ‘semi-naked’ efficiency and disagreement

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was earlier this month forced to apologise essentially saying he’d “s***” Kylie Minogue.

Albanese, 63, was speaking on the Bush Deep podcast with comedian Nikki Osbourne earlier this month when he was asked how he’d place Kylie Minogue, Nicole Kidman and Rhonda Burchmore in a “s***, marry, date” game.

At first Albanese was hesitant, replying with “I’ve just got married, I’m only six months in”. Osbourne pressed him, to which he admitted: “Kylie, clearly… all of the above, she’s terrific.” Many commentators dubbed the comments “misogynistic”, with the prime minister issuing an “unequivocal” apology for announcing he’d sleep with the Princess of Pop.

Albanese isn’t the only politician to get in trouble for making some suspect comments about celebrities over the years.

JFK

In 1962 then-US President John F. Kennedy leaned back in his chair and admitted he could “retire from politics happy”.

Earlier that day, sex symbol Marilyn Monroe performed a sultry performance of ‘Happy Birthday, Mr. President’ at Madison Square Gardens. Monroe strutted the stage in a near-see through dress, during a rendition many said dripped with sexual suggestion.

Silvio Berlusconi

The breathy performance further fuelled public rumours that the pair were engaging in an affair, something which was never officially confirmed.

Obviously, this is an article about lewd behaviour by politicians – so it wouldn’t be complete with a mention of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

At an awards dinner in 2007, Berlusconi was flirting with a dancer, saying: “I’d go with you anywhere.” He then turned his attention to Mara Carfagna – a former television showgirl and topless model turned politician.

“Take a look at her!” Berlusconi declared to the assembled guests. “I’d marry her if I weren’t married already.”

The Prime Minister’s long-suffering second wife Veronica Lario wrote an infamous open letter published in newspaper La Repubblica demanding a public apology from her husband.

Donald Trump

Next in the swelling ranks of inappropriate old male politicians is of course the one and only Donald Trump. The Don’s list of perv accusations is as long as his swollen face is orange – there’s “grab her by the p****”-gate, or his alleged affair with adult star Stormy Daniels.

We’ve decided to pluck out his bizarre history with actress Kristen Stewart, which began in 2012 after he sent tweets criticising her for cheating on her Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson.

“Robert Pattinson should not take back Kristen Stewart,” Trump wrote at the time. “[Stewart] cheated on him like a dog and will do it again – just watch. He can do much better!”.

He added: “She will cheat again–100 certain–am I ever wrong?” Stewart has since told journalists it was “f****** crazy” that she was the root of Donald Trump’s obsessions for a time.

It’s not just male politicians expressing their infatuations for younger female stars – there’s also the old fashioned public war of words.

Kemi Badenoch

Actor David Tennant and MP Kemi Badenoch clashed publicly over transgender rights and women’s spaces in June 2024. The former Dr. Who actor said at the British LGBT Awards he wished Badenoch – then Equalities Minister – would “shut up” and looked forward to a world where she “doesn’t exist any more”.

Badenoch shot back, calling Tennant a “rich, lefty, white male celebrity”. She added: “I will not shut up. I will not be silenced by men who prioritise applause from Stonewall over the safety of women and girls”.

Boris Johnson

And then there’s examples of politicians using celebs for scoring points against rival parties, like when Boris Johnson said Marcus Rashford would “make a better leader of the opposition” than Jeremy Corbyn.

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