Viewers have slammed 60 Minutes reporter Charles Wooley after he called Jacinda Ardern ‘attractive’ in what has been labelled a ‘patronising’ and ‘repugnant’ interview.
Speaking to the New Zealand Prime Minister on 60 Minutes on Sunday night, Mr Wooley said ‘I’ve met a lot of Prime Ministers in my time, but none too young and not so many so smart, and never one so attractive’.
After the episode aired, scores of offended viewers flocked to Twitter to share their outrage.
Viewers have slammed 60 Minutes reporter Charles Wooley after he called Jacinda Ardern (pictured) ‘attractive’ in what has been labelled as a ‘patronising’ and ‘repugnant’ interview
‘Commenting on Jacinda Ardern’s level of attractiveness doesn’t seem to be at all relevant to her ability as a nation’s leader,’ one woman said.
‘Absolutely cringeworthy. The things women have to put up with,’ another said.
Viewers also questioned Mr Wooley’s general approach to the interview.
‘Charles Wooley interviewing Jacinda Ardern on 60 Minutes would have to go down as the most patronising interview for a long time,’ one critic said.
‘”I’ve met a lot of Prime Ministers in my time, none as good looking”. Imagine a woman reporter saying that about a man.’
Another critic said the tone of the interview left him ‘gagging’.
Speaking to the New Zealand Prime Minister on 60 Minutes on Sunday night, Mr Wooley (pictured) said ‘I’ve met a lot of Prime Ministers in my time… but never one so attractive’
60 Minutes reporter Charles Wooley (right) interviewed Jacinda Ardern (centre) and her husband Clarke Gayford (left)
One female viewer took the liberty of apologising to Jacinda Ardern.
‘So sorry that our Australian reporters were gross. You have huge fans in this kiwi-au house,’ she said.
One man said he felt embarrassed for the New Zealand Prime Minister and was surprised she was able to ‘endure’ the interview.
‘Some of these questions are so repugnant… then he makes a comment about how attractive she is. I’m embarrassed that Jacinda Ardern and her husband had to endure them,’ he said.
In the Sunday night segment, Mr Wooley also questioned the young leader, who is pregnant, about her due date.
Mr Wooley also questioned Ms Ardern (left and right with her husband) when her due date was
Ms Ardern (with husband Clarke Gayford) failed to hide an initial reaction of shock, before laughing off the comment about the conception of her child
‘One really important political question that I want to ask you, and that is, what exactly is the date that the baby’s due?’ he said.
When Ms Ardern told him it was due on June 17, Mr Wooley said: ‘it’s interesting how much people have been counting back to the conception date’.
Ms Ardern failed to hide an initial reaction of shock, before laughing off the comment.
When Mr Wooley pushed for a response, Ms Ardern said the baby was conceived when the election was over ‘not that we need to get into those details’.
