Dee Salmin, girlfriend of AFL star Darcy Moore, drew attention at Melbourne Fashion Week with a white singlet boldly displaying the word ‘Difficult’. The 31-year-old Triple J presenter aimed the message directly at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Custom-Designed Statement Piece
Salmin crafted the top herself, using fabric paint on a thrifted singlet, and shared the process on social media. She styled it with a black-and-white patterned mini-skirt and knee-high boots while posing at the Royal Exhibition Building.
‘We love difficult women and upcycling at @melbfashionfestival,’ Salmin captioned her post. She added, ‘So my top was handmade with fabric paint and an op shop singlet.’
Backlash Over Albanese’s Comment
The outfit responds to Albanese’s recent characterization of Grace Tame as ‘difficult’ during a rapid-fire Q&A at the Future Victoria summit. Tame, 2021 Australian of the Year and child sexual abuse survivor, faced the remark amid a one-word description challenge.
Albanese later explained his intent: ‘Grace Tame, you certainly can’t describe in one word. She has had a difficult life, and that was what I was referring to.’ He stated, ‘If there was any misinterpretation, then I certainly apologise.’
In the same session, Albanese called Donald Trump ‘president’, Pauline Hanson ‘divisive’, and One Nation voters ‘frustrated’, but passed on describing Barnaby Joyce.
Tame Fires Back
Tame hit social media to criticize: ‘Dude’s quoting Scott (Morrison) now!!! “She’s had a difficult life”… Spare me the condescension, old man.’ She viewed it as ‘a badge of honour anyway. A confession that I’ve ruffled him.’
She labeled the apology ‘a patronising cop out from a total coward’.
Tame maintains a solid rapport with Albanese, unlike her sharp critiques of predecessor Scott Morrison over the Brittany Higgins parliamentary rape case.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young called the initial comment unfortunate but accepted the apology as suitable.
