’60 Minutes’ is Getting Slammed For A “Creepy” Interview With Jacinda Ardern
"We don't need to get into those details."
If you bothered to tune in to 60 Minutes last night, you’d have been treated to an interview with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern that was, at best, extremely uncomfortable.
Australian journalist Charles Wooley opened the segment by noting how attractive Ardern is, and later pressed on with a bizarre line of questioning about her pregnancy, and the exact timing of the conception of her baby.
New Zealanders have taken to Twitter to slam the interview as both “sexist” and “creepy”, and look, yeah.
“In terms of being pregnant, how much of a help in those approval ratings do you think the baby — how much does he help out?” is how Wooley opened the interview, managing to immediately link Ardern’s impressive popularity to her uterus.
I assumed #60mins would have a second half of the Jacinda interview after the break that talked about her policies and political achievements. But… nothing. All we got was sexist comments about her looks and baby talk. Ugh. Absolutely shitful journalism… *changes channel* ?
— Priscilla Sutton (@trisgilla) February 25, 2018
Dear New Zealand ??, our best mate, you know how everyone has a creepy Uncle you need to avoid at Xmas parties? Sorry we got him to interview your PM. Please tell @jacindaardern we reckon it was gross.
Love, Australia ?? https://t.co/B9Bz3AQRsk
— Belinda Barnet (@manjusrii) 26 February 2018
Later in the interview, Wooley asked exactly when Ardern’s baby is due, and then remarked that “it’s interesting how much people have been counting back to the conception,” as Ardern and her partner looked real uncomfortable.
“Why shouldn’t a child be conceived during an election campaign?” he asked, and then, when Ardern said that actually (a) the election was over and (b) “we don’t need to get into those details”, Wooley concluded by saying “the child is steeped in politics”. Which is a weird metaphor I really would not like to dwell on at this time.
In the segment’s concluding minutes, Wooley managed to ask a random man whether Ardern can handle pregnancy and the prime ministership. To his credit, the bloke says yes, but why are we asking him?
Wooley then remarked that “I’ve met a lot of Prime Ministers in my time, but none so young, not too many so smart, and never one so attractive,” as the camera panned across Ardern’s face.
Never mind that her looks have nothing to do with the job. Never mind that a good chunk of the interview has now dwelled on the Ardern’s body instead of her leadership and policies.
Commenting on @jacindaardern's level of attractiveness, doesn't seem to be at all relevant to her ability as a nation's leader #60Mins
— Emily G (@emily_a_george) February 25, 2018
PM Jacinda Ardern should have walked from the so-called interview on 60mins. Not an interview. It was demeaning. PM give yourself permission to remove yourself from such abuse.
— Nedina Hohaia (@NedinaHohaia) February 25, 2018
And look, plenty of the interview also covered the great work Ardern is doing as Prime Minister, but it’s a real pity it needs to be mixed in with all the other stuff.
Nice one, Australia, back at it again with the sexist bullshit. It’s 2018 and mainstream media still can’t handle a woman in political power.
You can watch the full interview below. We’ve contacted 60 Minutes for their response to the criticism, and we’ll let you know if we hear back.