Anthony Albanese has sparked outrage after attending a Taylor Swift concert and a private Katy Perry show as Australians battle a cost of living crisis.
A post on
The post, titled ‘Good job! “Albo is a Swiftie and Australians are getting poorer” was followed by a litany of abuse against Albanese.
However, that didn’t stop him from flying to Melbourne on Saturday to attend a private Katy Perry concert at billionaire Anthony Pratt’s mansion.
The Prime Minister was among a crowd of around 200 members of Australia’s business and political elites, notably absent from Woolworths chief executive Brad Banducci, who stood down after scrutiny over alleged price gouging.
Mr Albanese (blue top) is seen at Friday night’s Taylor Swift show in Sydney, between his son Nathan and fiancée Jodie Haydon.
On a busy weekend, Anthony Albanese attended shows by Katy Perry (pictured left) in Melbourne and Taylor Swift (pictured right) in Sydney.
A poster beneath images of Mr Albanese dancing at Taylor Swift’s show commented on his “body language”.
“He doesn’t feel comfortable, he jumps because others do, then the guy next to him (his son, Nathan) is more subdued, as is Ablo (sic), our prime minister.
‘Concerned about his appearance, I wonder if he knows he is being filmed.’
Others were more directly abusive, like the poster who wrote: “I don’t even know how this guy got in the afternoon.” This guy is just there to have as much fun as possible while he’s there and spend taxpayers’ money.
‘What has it solved? She has made life miserable for all Australians since she arrived there. Leave this country and live somewhere else and stop sucking people off.
Another added: “Australians are suffering from price increases in supermarkets, energy, transport etc… @AlboMP is on holiday.”
Albanese defended his attendance at Swift’s Sydney show, telling Weekend Sunrise on Sunday that “at a time when there is so much turmoil in the world, one of the reasons Taylor Swift’s tour has been so successful is because It’s so positive.”
‘She’s so uplifting, and that’s her message… And she’s a very welcome visitor here. And I think her message of female empowerment is positive,” she stated.
‘And secondly, it’s also been pretty good for the economy. Good for employment and good for economic activity. So that is always welcome too.”
The Prime Minister also appeared on Weekend Today and praised Swift’s talent, saying “she’s a great songwriter.” I think she’s a great lyricist.”
“I think she’s in the genre of Joni Mitchell and people who have come before her writing in ways that people can really relate to,” he said.
Taylor Swift performing during the first night of her Eras tour at Melbourne Cricket Ground
Katy Perry (right) and Rita Ora (left) were at Taylor Swift’s show in Sydney on Friday night. Perry performed a private show before 200 people, including Anthony Albanese, in Melbourne on Saturday.
When asked about attending Perry’s secret show on Sunday, Albanese said that was not his main reason for attending the function at Pratt’s mansion.
“Last night I gave a speech at the annual food and beverage dinner,” he said.
‘Last year it was held in Sydney. This year it was held here in Melbourne. It’s an annual event and it’s an opportunity to talk to manufacturers…
‘The good news I received last night from many of the companies was that they are expanding their operations. That means more jobs here and it means our economy is more resilient here, too.”
However, not all online comments about Albanese’s attendance at major pop concerts were negative.
One cartel used it as an opportunity to attack the previous prime minister. ‘Scomo is no longer prime minister. “Now we have a real one,” they wrote.