Veteran Nine Australia journalist Charles Wooley has suffered the wrath of social media after he described NZ PM Jacinda Ardern, as “attractive” during an interview on 60 Minutes last night.
Introducing the interview in a voiceover, Wooley said: “I’ve met a lot of Prime Ministers in my time, but none too young and not so many so smart – and never one so attractive.” B&T reports that it was unclear if Ardern even heard the remark.
Viewers were quick to take to social media to register their disgust at the comments and slam Wooley for a “repugnant” and “patronising” interview.
“Charles Wooley interviewing Jacinda Ardern would have to go down as the most patronising interview for a long time,” one viewer wrote. “Imagine a woman reporter saying that about a man?”
“Charles Wooley came away from his interview with Jacinda Ardern in awe of her poise, intelligence and everyday charm, which was reflected in the full story”
Another said: “Some of these questions are so repugnant … then he makes a comment about how attractive she is. I’m embarrassed that Jacinda Ardern and her husband had to endure them.”
Wooley then went on to question Ardern about her pregnancy, suggesting that the baby may have been conceived on the night of her election win.
Ardern laughed the comment off before adding that the baby was conceived when the election was over and “not that we need to get into those details”.
In a statement to B&T, a Nine spokesperson said: “In its 40 years on-air, 60 Minutes has always been renowned for its political interviews conducted without fear or favour.
The tough questions
“In interviews with various world leaders including Bob Hawke, Margaret Thatcher and current Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull, 60 Minutes reporters have always asked the tough questions which the public has been wanting to hear, while also showing the human side of these individuals that we rarely get to see.
“Charles Wooley came away from his interview with Jacinda Ardern in awe of her poise, intelligence and everyday charm, which was reflected in the full story.”
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