Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard was interviewed on TikTok live by a user who went viral last year with a remix of her famous misogyny speech.
Abbey Hansen, an Adelaide-based midwife who goes by the TikTok username @minorfauna, went viral last year when she posted a TikTok remixing Gillard’s 2012 misogyny speech – directed at then-Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott – with Doja Cat’s song ‘Boss Bitch’.
@minorfaunaAfter multiple requests, I bring you my take on the ICONIC ‘Misogyny’ speech by Julia Gillard with a #glambot twist. #bosschallenge #quarantine
The video now has more than 1,000,000 views and 248,000 likes. It was one of the top Australian TikToks of 2020.
As part of their International Women’s Day initiatives, throughout March the platform has been ‘shining a spotlight on the strong, creative and empowered women’ on TikTok and the ‘trailblazer’s who’ve inspired them’, according to their blog.
On Thursday 25 March, Gillard joined Hansen on a TikTok LIVE stream, where they discussion Gillard’s experience as the first female prime minister of Australia, as well as the issues of misogyny in politics and women’s mental health.
Gillard reflected in the live stream that, “changing the culture in Parliament House and beyond, making sure that we live in a world where women are safe and are able to forge their own path without gender-based barriers: that takes persistent effort.”
She also commended young women for their role in the fight for equality.
“One of the things that gives me hope is watching your generation of women stepping forward with so much enthusiasm and energy.”
Hansen also asked people to leave comments on her Instagram with questions for the former Prime Minister.
She previously gained popularity on the social video app by posting videos where she lip-synced to Scott Morrison’s press conferences.
Hansen told Body + Soul magazine that she was not expecting her video to go viral.
“I was blown away by the overwhelming amount of positive messages that I received in comments. Not only in Australia, I’ve had people from America and the UK and other parts of the world commenting and saying, even though they don’t even really know the backstory of the speech, or much about Australian politics, that they were inspired by it.”
She also said that it was “surreal” to have the opportunity to interview Gillard.
As part of TikTok’s IWD campaign, they have held a number of LIVE events including a Women in Sports Roundtable with female athletes including Jessica Long and Laurie Hernandez, and a Women in Business 101 stream with Tyra Banks.
Featured Image: TkTok via SBS News
