Steve Price issues grovelling apology to Jacinda Ardern: ‘What I said was dumb’

Steve Price has apologised for calling Jacinda Ardern “that woman” during a puzzling argument on The Project Tuesday night.

Steve Price has issued a grovelling apology to Jacinda Ardern after Twitter unleashed fury on the controversial broadcaster Tuesday night.

It comes after he let his mouth run while comparing the New Zealand Prime Minister’s family holiday to Australia with Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s infamous December trip to Hawaii amid the national bushfire crisis, in a puzzling argument.

“She should be in her own country and spend money in her own place,” he growled.

“Typical virtue-signalling from Ardern. I get sick and tired of that woman!,” he asserted, prompting viewers to call him out as “sexist”.

RELATED: Photos emerge of Scott Morrison holidaying in Hawaii amid bushfires

RELATED: Jacinda Ardern showed Scott Morrison how to lead during a national crisis

While Pricey was absent from the panel tonight, he phoned in to apologise for his comments towards the end of the program.

Host Lisa Wilkinson – admitting she was “shocked” by the comments – began by asking whether he had any regrets from the way he spoke.

“I do,” Price began.

“Thanks for letting me come back on tonight and apologise to Jacinda Ardern. What I said was disrespectful to her as a woman and importantly it was also disrespectful of the office of the Prime Minister of New Zealand, our closest ally. She has got every right to be here in Australia and what I said last night was dumb,” he conceded.

“It was dumb.” Steve Price issued a grovelling apology to the New Zealand Prime Minister tonight. Picture: Channel 10.

“Are you sorry because of the huge backlash that there was over the last 24 hours, or do you genuinely mean that because I think people were particularly offended that you would call her ‘that woman’ and make it about gender,” Wilkinson asked.

“I think you have known me long enough that I’m genuine about things,” he assured the panel.

“I got home last night, watched myself and thought back and I thought I was wrong to do it. If I make a mistake I own it. I made a mistake last night, a dumb one, and I’m here to say sorry.”

He also assured the panel he is “not a climate change sceptic or denier” after several comments he made about the bushfire crisis last night.

I’m someone who is open for debate about this,” he said.

His apology comes after he commented on a story about Jacinda Ardern’s holiday to Queensland potentially boosting post-bushfire tourism to Australia, criticising the move for seemingly no reason other than to express his disdain of the New Zealand PM.

“What’s she doing hanging around in Australia,” Steve Price scowled. Picture: Channel 10.

“Why is she not holidaying in New Zealand?,” he questioned to his confused co-hosts Lisa Wilkinson, and Peter van Onselen.

“If you can criticise Scott Morrison going to Hawaii, why is she not in Hamilton or Canterbury. What is she doing hanging around Australia?,” the panellist said with a scowl.

“She should be in her own country and spend money in her own place. Typical virtue-signalling from Ardern. I get sick and tired of that woman!,” he asserted.

“It could be a PM exchange program. We could always cross our fingers,” joked host Lisa Wilkinson, attempting to keep the peace.

Meanwhile, van Onselen wasn’t so forgiving.

Co-hosts Peter van Onselen and Lisa Wilkinson appeared baffled by the comments. Picture: Channel 10.

“Nobody is saying that the Prime Ministers can’t travel overseas,” he said, laughing.

But Price continued to push his point: “Hang on, if you are going to criticise Scott Morrison going to Hawaii instead of going to the southern coast of New South Wales, why not criticise her.”

“Her country is not on fire, mate,” van Onselen spat back.

A tense back-and-forth ensued between the two as the remaining panellists awkwardly watched on.

“So?,” Pricey said.

“What do you mean so?”, replied van Onselen.

Tensions ran high on the panel. Picture: Channel 10.

Peter Helliar later chimed in, attempting to lighten the mood. Picture: Channel 10.

“She should be in New Zealand spending money there.”

Helliar, attempted again to lighten the mood, quipping: “They are allowed to leave the country, Pricey.”

But sticking to his guns, Pricey continued to defend Mr Morrison and slam Ms Ardern, prompting Wilkinson to explain that the nation’s uproar following Mr Morrison’s holiday to Hawaii was to do with “timing and the fact that he hid it from the public.”

“I’m getting tired of Jacinda Ardern doing no wrong,” Pricey concluded, clearly defeated by his eye-rolling colleagues.

On Twitter, viewers were quick to call out his criticism of Ms Ardern as misogyny.

Others called for him to be removed from the show.

And a lot of us are sick of you Steve Price. You contribute nothing to most debates. #TheProjectTV pic.twitter.com/WAuzOLPD7Z

— ℝ𝕠𝕕𝕕𝕝𝕖𝕫🤔 (@Roddlez1) January 14, 2020

How about @theprojecttv consider whether their female viewers really need a dose of ‘that woman’ Steve-Price-misogyny beamed into our living rooms, or if we would instead prefer a cup of tea and a good book? In what world is a ranting known sexist entertaining?

— 💧Queen Victoria (@Vic_Rollison) January 14, 2020

Steve Price's issue with Jacinda Ardern is NOT that she's holidaying in Australia, it's that he is sick of 'that woman'. Seriously, why give him a platform? #TheProjectTV

— kaboosie (@kaboosie) January 14, 2020

Hey Steve Price. Here's a lil' tip that you can cop. How about STFU & stop dissing a country's leader who is head & shoulders above the one we have leading ours! NZ isn't burning from top to bottom like Australia has been so she's free to holiday wherever she likes!#TheProjectTV

— JD (@JDSloane) January 14, 2020

Steve Price said he was 'sick of that women ' when talking about the New Zealand PM.#TheProjectTV Enough !. The standards drop when he is on but you obviously know that and cont to host him . Terrible standards.

— debbiep (@helphelpandhelp) January 14, 2020

The Project airs Sunday – Friday from 7.30pm on Ten.