Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe has launched a passionate defence of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during a revealing appearance on Joe Rogan's globally popular podcast, describing the political environment the leader inherited as 'a conga line of stupidity'.
Explosive Podcast Exchange
The dramatic exchange unfolded when Rogan directly asked Crowe 'What is wrong with the way Australia is run?' during their conversation. The Gladiator star didn't hold back in his response, praising Albanese as a genuinely motivated leader while criticising political opponents and media figures for creating distractions from the Prime Minister's actual achievements.
'We're a little bit lucky at the moment, we have a Prime Minister who is very much motivated by trying to help everybody, which should be the job of a politician right? To improve the lives of the people they represent,' Crowe told the podcast host.
'He's inherited a conga line of stupidity that was going on, and he's trying to fix things. There's haters on every corner, but he's a good man.'
Joy Division T-Shirt Controversy
Crowe specifically called out Opposition leader Sussan Ley for attacking Albanese over his choice of attire after returning from successful international meetings. The actor dismissed the criticism as an irrelevant distraction from the PM's substantial achievements abroad.
'He arrives off a plane the other day, he's just came back from some very successful international meetings where he's established various trade things and opportunities for Australia,' Crowe explained. '(He) gets off the plane wearing a Joy Division shirt, big band from his youth, and he's just a relaxed character. He's been wearing a suit and tie for weeks on the road.'
The actor expressed frustration that Ley had raised the issue in Parliament, claiming the band's name references Nazi terminology. 'The member of the opposition wanted to point out, and did so in parliament, that Joy Division is a Nazi term and comes from a section of a particular camp where the women were prostituted… and it's like okay, what's the point of that,' Crowe said.
He added emphatically: 'We all know it's a band name. Just because you like the Rolling Stones doesn't mean you want rocks to be falling on people. What are you f***ing talking about?'
Political Fallout and PM's Response
The podcast episode has been viewed 1.2 million times on YouTube alone, generating significant political discussion and media attention.
When asked about Crowe's defence during an appearance on Kiss FM, Prime Minister Albanese confirmed he had personally thanked the actor for his supportive comments. 'He's a great guy, and it was very good of him,' Albanese told hosts Jackie O and Kyle Sandilands. 'He obviously didn't have to do that. I wasn't aware that he'd done it till it popped up on my feed.'
The Prime Minister revealed he had sent Crowe a text message to express his gratitude for the 'generous comment' made during the high-profile podcast interview.
Crowe concluded his political commentary by criticising what he sees as a pattern of trivial attacks on politicians. 'Picking up some pointless piece of minutiae and lighting it on fire and making a smokescreen to cover up the reality of the fact that the Prime Minister just worked his ass off on behalf of the country and successfully achieved a bunch of things.'
