Critics’ vitriolic attacks on Anthony Albanese for going to Kyle Sandilands’ wedding

Anthony Albanese has drawn criticism from high-profile commentators from both sides of the political spectrum for his decision to attend his friend Kyle Sandilands’ wedding.

The radio star married Tegan Kynaston on Saturday in a nearly $1 million ceremony at Sydney’s Darling Point in front of 130 guests ranging from the prime minister to colorful characters, including his best friend, Simon Main.

The Prime Minister spent seven hours at the shindig, arriving with partner Jodie Haydon 30 minutes before the ceremony started and not leaving until around 9.30pm, when the reception came to a close and the after-party began.

Now the prime minister is getting the headlines from conservative News Corp commentator Andrew Bolt and Amy Remeikis from the left-wing Guardian – among others – for his decision to attend.

Bolt penned a scathing op-ed accusing the prime minister of “pimping himself” to Sandilands and asking, “Has the man no pride?” No class?’

In a 28 line dressing down for the Announce sunBolt said Mr Albanese might need to be reminded that he is the ‘prime minister of all Australians, not the tame poodle or halftime entertainment for the wedding of a nouveau-riche bogan’.

Albanians were not there to see love, but to kiss the back of power.

‘Being friends with the listeners of Sandilands – who have to vote in our elections – is simply the Albanian way of staying in power.

“If Sandilands had not 15.9 percent but 1.5 percent of Sydney’s radio audience, the Albanians would have stayed home.”

And Ms Remeikis, during a guest appearance on ABC’s Insiders, described the Prime Minister’s decision as “ridiculous.”

“This is probably the worst week for the Albanian government since they were elected… Ridiculous. Just ridiculous.’

Mr. Albanese and Sandilands have had a well-documented friendship since he took office in 2022.

And the Prime Minister made a point of describing Sandilands as an ‘Australian success story’ in defense of his decision to attend.

“A chap who was once homeless and lived on the streets of Sydney and has grown into someone who is an important public figure is part of what is an Australian success story,” he said.

Mr Albanese himself came from humble beginnings and lived with his mother in Camperdown in council housing.

Meanwhile, Sandilands spent more than nine months on the streets in Sydney when he was 15 after his parents divorced.

NSW Prime Minister Chris Minns was among the guests, as were Kings Cross personality John Ibrahim, Karl and Jasmine Stefanovic, Guy and Jules Sebastian and witness, convicted drug smuggler Simon Main.

Sandilands himself denounced any criticism of the politicians present. He told Daily Mail Australia: ‘These are my friends. My buddy did something stupid 25 years ago. What, should he be sentenced for the rest of his life?’

‘[Main] is ashamed of me and I said “I don’t care.” My friends are my friends and they are the most honest, solid people I’ve ever met.’

Sandilands argued that Mr Albanese’s job should not exclude him from attending events in a personal capacity.

“The guy can definitely go to an in-person event if he wants to, it’s not a 24/7 thing,” he said. “If something needed him, he should leave.”

Linda Scott, Labor councilor for the City of Sydney, told host Paul Murray on Sky News there was no reason for the criticism.

Speaking of Michael Kroger, the former president of the Victorian Liberal Party who was on the air at the time, Ms Scott said: ‘You know the Prime Minister is doing a good job and running an excellent government, but the worst thing Michael Kroger has to complain about is , is that he is going to a friend’s wedding on a Saturday night.

“I’m sure Michael, you and your friends will be writing columns about this… you need something to talk about, I understand that, but we have a government… that is doing an extraordinary job for the nation.

“The Prime Minister went to a friend’s wedding, he enjoyed it and it’s nice when two people who love each other get married.”

Several photos of Mr Albanese have since emerged from the event, showing him spending much of the time helping to care for the couple’s son, Otto.

The Prime Minister’s girlfriend, Jodie Haydon, described him as a ‘baby whisperer’, prompting a light-hearted response from the bride who asked if he would be ‘free to babysit on Wednesday night’.

The criticism from Bolt and Ms Remeikis comes after both the opposition invaded Mr Albanese’s presence.

Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said it was unfortunate that he “turned the cards on a million-dollar wedding when people can’t pay their rent.”

“There’s nothing wrong with going to a friend’s wedding, but it’s curious that the Prime Minister thinks he can take a day off a few days before his first proper budget,” she said.

The test of that budget will be whether (Mr) gives Albanian Australians a start date for the $275 cut in energy prices, a start date for the cheaper mortgages Labor promised and a start date for real wage increases.

“It’s hard to see how the Prime Minister can justify being there tomorrow when there’s still no response to those promises.”