Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Australian PM Albanese rejects apology calls over Takaichi melon joke
Anthony Albanese is the prime minister of Australia, the person who leads the country.
He appeared on a podcast called Bush Deep with a host named Nikki Osborne.
During that chat, he made a joke about a special melon that Sanae Takaichi, the prime minister of Japan, gave him when she visited Australia in May.
The melon was a 'royal melon', a very fancy fruit that can cost more than 190 dollars.
Some people thought Albanese's joke was rude and insulting to the Japanese prime minister.
Australia's opposition leader asked Albanese to say sorry.
Albanese said no, because he does not think he acted badly.
He said Takaichi is a friend of Australia and a friend of his.
This all became news in August, after a recording of the earlier interview came out.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declined to apologise on Tuesday (Aug 11) for crude remarks about a melon gift from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
The remarks came from an interview with the Bush Deep podcast, the same interview for which Albanese previously apologised for a comment about singer Kylie Minogue.
Albanese joked with host Nikki Osborne that he had 'got a couple of melons' after receiving the luxury Japanese royal melon from Takaichi.
The Japanese royal melon is a high-end luxury item that Japan's former ambassador to Australia said can cost upwards of $190.
Australia's opposition leader called the joke 'insulting' and demanded an apology, but Albanese rejected the assertion and called Takaichi 'a friend of Australia and a friend of mine.'
- Who
- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Australia's opposition leader, and podcast host Nikki Osborne.
- What
- Albanese refused to apologise for a crude joke about a luxury melon gift he received from Takaichi.
- When
- Tuesday, Aug 11; the remarks were made during an interview last month, and Takaichi's visit to Australia took place in May.
- Where
- Australia — at Albanese's official residence and later in parliament.
- Why
- Opposition leaders called the joke insulting to Takaichi and demanded an apology, which Albanese rejected.
Opposition critics
Prime Minister Albanese
Insult to Japanese PM
Opposition critics
The melon joke was insulting and disrespectful to Prime Minister Takaichi, and Albanese should apologise.
Prime Minister Albanese
Albanese rejects the assertion of disrespectful behaviour, saying the joke was made privately and describing Takaichi as a friend of Australia and of his own.
- Australian PM
- Anthony Albanese
- Japanese PM
- Sanae Takaichi
- Gift in question
- Japanese royal melon
- Reported melon cost
- Upwards of $190 (per Japan's former ambassador to Australia)
- Podcast
- Bush Deep, hosted by Nikki Osborne
- Takaichi's visit to Australia
- May
- Albanese's response
- "I reject the assertion in the question"
- Earlier apology
- Comment about singer Kylie Minogue in the same interview