Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was criticised on Wednesday after appearing on the Happy Hour podcast and using several pieces of Gen Z slang during a light-hearted interview that included a filmed moment in which he and the hosts bent down to "touch grass" outside the official residence at The Lodge.
Albanese was quizzed by hosts Lucy Jackson and Nikki Westcott on trending slang. He correctly defined terms including "Do it for the plot," "Touch grass," "Pick me girl," and "It's giving," but said he did not know the meaning of "IYKYK" ("If you know, you know"). He told the hosts he sometimes uses hashtags and emojis "just to annoy my staff." The trio were filmed performing the gesture of touching grass and gave a thumbs-up to camera.
Reaction to the interview on social media and in comment threads was divided. Some described the appearance as "embarrassing" and criticised the interviewers for what they called soft questions that avoided pressing matters such as the conflict in Gaza and Australia's housing crisis. One user wrote the prime minister was "supposed to be the prime minister of this country" and another accused the hosts of failing to ask whether Australia condemned alleged atrocities carried out by an ally using Australian-made components.
Other commenters defended the interview format and praised Albanese for speaking to a podcast with a predominantly female audience. Supporters said the appearance fitted the hosts' established tone and noted the potential value of reaching younger voters through non-traditional media.
The only policy-adjacent exchange in the episode addressed controversy surrounding the March for Australia on August 31. Albanese said some attendees were motivated by concerns about housing but that the events had been "hijacked by neo-Nazis targeting the Indian community," adding that "neo-Nazis have no place in Australia." He was previously dared by the hosts to use the slang term "delulu" and recalled incorporating it in a parliamentary speech earlier in the year.
Media analysts say appearances by senior politicians on popular podcasts are increasingly common as media consumption fragments across platforms. Laura Dew, managing director of Wonder Co. and a social media expert, said politicians can use these platforms to reach niche audiences, but warned that such interviews risk contributing to "algorithmic polarisation" by reinforcing existing viewpoints rather than persuading undecided voters. Dew also said the proliferation of niche interviewers increases the likelihood that a politician will face less rigorous questioning than in traditional outlets.
The prime minister's office has not yet published a transcript of the episode on its media page; transcripts for other podcast interviews have been posted in the past. Jackson and Westcott have previously filmed social media content with Albanese, including a TikTok clip inspired by the film Legally Blonde.
Podcast appearances by political leaders have drawn scrutiny from commentators who argue for a balance between outreach and accountability. Supporters say these formats allow leaders to connect with broader and younger audiences; critics say they can displace harder questioning about policy, foreign affairs and domestic issues.
Albanese's appearance on Happy Hour comes as his government continues to face public debate over housing, international alignments and domestic social issues. The prime minister's engagement with new media formats is likely to remain part of broader conversations about how political figures communicate with voters in a fragmented media landscape.