Body language expert weighs in on bizarre Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion interview
On Sunday night, 614,000 Australian viewers tuned in to watch Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion’s tell-all TV interview.
The former Deputy Prime Minister and his partner accepted $150,000 from the Seven Network to tell their side of the political scandal.
Now, body language and voice expert Dr Louise Mahler has weighed in on the interview, suggesting that Ms Campion showed a lack of love for her partner.
“There were no signs of affection between them,” she told The Daily Telegraph.
“They are two people, not a couple, doing the best in a bad situation.”
Dr Mahler also suggested that Ms Campion takes the lead in the relationship after walking into the interview ahead of Mr Joyce and sitting down before him.
She also said that Ms Campion was leaning away from Mr Joyce throughout the interview and often interrupted him.
Dr Mahler said that this behaviour was a sign that the couple argue often.
The body language expert also believes that Ms Campion is struggling to cope with the pressure of their scandal, despite putting on a brave face in front of the cameras.
In the Sunday Night interview, Ms Campion revealed that she was told by members of the National party to have an abortion.
“They came to me and they said: 'You're pregnant and you have to get an abortion'. And they said: 'If you don't, they're going to come after you',” she said.
“And I said: 'It's too late, it has a heartbeat'. And they said: 'If you don't, they're going to come after you'.”
Mr Joyce described those that had threatened Ms Campion as the “absolute scum of the earth”.
“Their contribution to it is they're going to try and make an incredibly difficult situation almost unbearable by saying to you that, 'Woman, you will do this if you want a career in this place'. And that's your Australian parliament,” he said.
During the interview, Mr Joyce admitted to “living a lie” by continuing his public relationship with his wife while being involved with Ms Campion.
The politician refused to comment on his wife and four daughters, saying that was “completely private”.
Mr Joyce told the Seven Network that he had let his family down during the scandal.
“I failed, I failed, I failed, I failed, I failed,” he said.
Ms Campion also confessed that she had been hurt by Mr Joyce telling media that their son Sebastian’s paternity was a “grey area”.
“It was a decision we made together,” Mr Joyce said of his controversial comment, before she rebutted: “I didn't tell you to say it was a ‘grey area’.”
Despite the national scrutiny of their relationship, Ms Campion said the pain they faced was the price of love.
“I couldn't help it. You can't help who you fall in love with,” she said.