Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faced backlash from Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley after wearing a Joy Division T-shirt upon returning from a U.S. trip on October 28, 2025.
Ley called it a profound failure of judgment due to the band’s name originating from a Nazi euphemism for forced prostitution in concentration camps and demanded an apology amid global sensitivities to antisemitism.
Albanese dismissed the controversy as a non-issue, citing his fandom of the band’s anti-fascist themes, while reactions ranged from defenses of the music to accusations of insensitivity, highlighting partisan divides in Australian politics.
It has since been revealed Anthony Albanese knew the background to the name of the band having been advised of its meaning in 2022.
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