An Australian journalist has been criticised for his interview with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Channel Nine's 60 Minutes.
Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford on 60 minutes. Photo: Screenshot / 60 Minutes
Viewers have called Charles Wooley's interview style repugnant and patronising, with much of the focus on Ms Ardern's pregnancy.
During the segment, Mr Wooley described Ms Ardern as attractive and young.
"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," he said.
He spent time with Ms Ardern and her partner Clarke Gayford earlier this month to talk about the country's new leadership.
But instead he asked questions about the conception of their child, which resulted in a surprised reaction from both Ms Ardern and Mr Gayford.
"There is one really important political question I want to ask you, and that is, what exactly is the date the baby's due?"
Ms Ardern laughed while answering " the 17th of June," to which Mr Wooley made a comment about the timing of the conception.
"It's interesting how much people have been counting back to the conception, as it were."
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
Charles Woolley is bloody painful. Was interested in the Jacinda Ardern interview on 60 Minutes but he made it cringeworthy.
— Reg Roberts (@RugbyReg) February 25, 2018
Many viewers posted on Twitter, calling Mr Wooley creepy, cringe-worthy, sexist, and tone-deaf.
