Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been slammed online after he shared a picture in which he can be seen posing with two reality stars.
In the selfie, the PM can be seen smiling as he poses alongside Rhi Disljenkovic and Jeff Gobbels who are currently 'husband and wife' on Nine's Married at First Sight.
The Prime Minister, who is getting ready to tie the knot with his fiancé Jodie Haydon later this year, also made a joke about his upcoming nuptials.
'I’m pro marriage - hope to have one this year,' he said in the caption and added that he had 'bumped into' the MAFS stars while visiting Perth.
However, the PMs light-hearted jest appeared to go over badly with followers, who took to the his personal Instagram to throw shade for appearing to support the controversial show.
'Of all the people doing amazing things in Australia and you choose to put the energy into taking a photo with these two...', one user moaned.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been slammed online after he shared a picture in which he can be seen posing with two reality stars. Pictured: The PM poses alongside Rhi Disljenkovic and Jeff Gobbells from Nine's Married at First Sight
The Prime Minister, who is getting ready to tie the knot with his fiancé Jodie Haydon later this year, also made a joke about his upcoming nuptials. (Both pictured)
Another simply dismissed the PMs gesture as 'too funny'.
However, a few armchair critics saw the post as a way to take a dig at the PM as well as MAFS' reputation for deliberately stirring drama - to the detriment of cast members.
'Yeh, nah. This isn’t it. Supporting a show that clearly falls well short of protecting their participants. Nah,' messaged one voter.
Added another viewer: 'Yeah this tracks. You would watch a show like that and not acknowledge the state of male on women violence in this country.'
'Pro marriage but supports a show that mocks marriage,' whined another user.
Still, a few others on the PMs thread saw the post as an attempt to 'be relatable' by posing with stars who feature in Australia's most popular TV show.
'PM Trying hard to be cool,' offered one user, while another commented: 'Ya know, even PM needs to watch trash tv too,' and added a laughing emoji.
Another appeared admonish the PM by messaging: 'Mate, what are you doing?'
The PMs light-hearted jest appeared to go over badly with followers, who took to his personal Instagram to throw shade for appearing to support the controversial show
However, another thoughtful voter pointed out that the PM made the right choice to pose with the MAFS stars as a gesture of goodwill.
'But this 20 sec photo is ok of these 2 and if he had shunned them everyone would be [whinging]. Either way he can't win just take it for what it is,' they argued.
It comes after Anthony Albanese and Jodie Haydon have revealed they will officially be husband and wife by the end of the year, regardless of the result of the coming election.
The Prime Minister and Ms Haydon told the Australian Women's Weekly last month that they are planning a modest ceremony for relatives and close friends that will likely be held in the spring after Australians have gone to the polls.
'It will be small, intimate. Possibly outdoors, in the second half of this year, with our family and loved ones … And you can be sure [pet cavoodle] Toto will make an appearance,' Ms Haydon said.
Mr Albanese said he had asked for the support of his 24-year-old son Nathan prior to popping the question, whom he shares with his ex-wife Carmel Tebbutt, a former NSW Deputy Premier.
'I respect him and have a good relationship with him, and with his mother. So I asked him to think about it ... and he was supportive. He wants me to be happy, and Nathan and Jodie have a really nice relationship as well,' Mr Albanese said.
He said one major difference between himself and Ms Haydon became more apparent when deciding on the potential guest list - the size of their extended families.
'Growing up, there was just me and my mum. I haven't got any brothers or sisters. I've got one really close relative, my son Nathan, and I cherish that relationship – we're great mates.
He said he 'added it up this week' and his six first cousins were vastly outnumbered by Ms Haydon who 'has hundreds … well, there must be 70 at least'.
