Gladys BerejiklianGladys Berejiklian posts photo showing her back and a hand holding a sugar-free Coke ahead of State of Origin clash
A bizarre photo of the New South Wales premier, Gladys Berejiklian, has become the latest in a long line of images of Australian politicians watching television in baffling and unnerving ways.
Posted on Wednesday to drum up support for New South Wales in its upcoming clash with Queensland in the State of Origin rugby league, the premiers photo was instead widely mocked for its bizarre composition and strange elements.
In the image, Berejiklian can be seen standing alone in a large room with the blinds drawn, watching a small, blurred television that is largely out of frame.
With her back to the camera, the Liberal leader is holding an unopened can of sugar-free Coke. Shes wearing a Blues beanie and scarf.
Within minutes of it being posted on Twitter and Facebook, the premiers photographer and social media team were immediately criticised for having created the unsettling image.
The photo was published at 4pm on Wednesday more than four hours before the game was due to start.
It’s 4pm…Time to draw the blinds and stand in the middle of a darkened room, while I patiently wait a further 4 hours for the game to start on a tiny TV mounted at head-height approx 10 metres away from me
Naaman Zhou (@naamanzhou) June 9, 2021
The premiers televisual faux pas spawned hundreds of memes and drew comparisons to a surprisingly long list of other politicians who viewed their televisions from strange angles.
I’m glad that Gladys Berejiklian follows the iron law of politics: all TVs must be placed at odd and uncomfortable heights
casey briggs (@CaseyBriggs) June 9, 2021
In 2017, the former prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, made headlines for watching the outcome of the marriage equality postal survey on an extremely low TV, mounted inside a cabinet on the floor, while he remained standing.
Later that night, he somehow found another way to observe a television incorrectly, when he watched the Socceroos beat Honduras in a World Cup qualifier from a very low angle, with the TV too high.
The current prime minister, Scott Morrison, has also been snapped watching rugby on a small TV somehow mounted in the corner of a room (while pointing at it) and watching the finale of Game of Thrones on a too-large bank of TVs.
Australias high commissioner to the UK, and former attorney general, George Brandis, watched the last federal budget on a tiny laptop while seated too far away.
A brilliant Budget address by the Treasurer.
This is a roadmap for Australias recovery and it presents a significant opportunity for international cooperation as we emerge from the coronavirus crisis. pic.twitter.com/StDeo6FzCF
George Brandis (@AusHCUK) October 6, 2020
But on Wednesday, the fact that Berejiklian was pictured entirely from behind, with none of her face visible, also raised questions as to whether it was actually the premier in the photo.
A rapidly made template also enabled many to make their own memes of the premier watching other famous historical events.
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