Michael Clarke looks solemn after Pip Edwards was slammed for ‘tone deaf’ Australia Day posts

Michael Clarke has been spotted for the first time since his girlfriend Pip Edwards was slammed online for sharing seemingly contradicting messages about Australia Day on Tuesday. 

The retired cricketer, 39, wore a rather sour expression as he stepped out in Sydney on Wednesday after a visit to the gym.

Clutching a protein shaker in one hand and his mobile phone in the other, Michael wore a pensive expression as he pounded the pavement alone. 

Solemn: Michael Clarke, 39, (pictured) looked solemn as he stepped out in Sydney on Wednesday – a day after his girlfriend Pip Edwards, 40, was slammed on social media for ‘tone deaf’ Australia Day posts

The father-of-one dressed for action, wearing a navy T-shirt, black sports shorts and a pair of crisp white sneakers.

He shaded his face from the sun with a black baseball cap, and carried the rest of his belongings in a black leather backpack. 

Michael also showcased a glimpse at his sprawling tattoo collection, including a large ‘carpe diem’ inking on his left forearm. 

Pensive: Clutching a protein shaker in one hand and his mobile phone in the other, Michael wore a pensive expression as he pounded the pavement alone

Pensive: Clutching a protein shaker in one hand and his mobile phone in the other, Michael wore a pensive expression as he pounded the pavement alone 

Blowing off some steam at the gym? The father-of-one dressed for action, wearing a navy T-shirt, black sports shorts and a pair of crisp white sneakers

Blowing off some steam at the gym? The father-of-one dressed for action, wearing a navy T-shirt, black sports shorts and a pair of crisp white sneakers 

Celebration: Pip's boyfriend, retired Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke (centre, in the black T-shirt), was among the guests

Celebration: The sighting comes a day after Michael (centre) and his activewear mogul girlfriend Pip celebrated Australia Day by attending a party where the Aboriginal flag was mistakenly flown upside down 

The sighting comes a day after Michael and his activewear mogul girlfriend Pip, 40, celebrated Australia Day by attending a party where the Aboriginal flag was mistakenly flown upside down. 

Pip documented the event on Instagram, despite having uploaded an anti-Australia Day message hours earlier. 

Fans were quick to slam the fashion designer for sharing conflicting messages.

Opinion: On Tuesday morning, Pip had shared a letter to a publication (pictured) which argued that Australia Day shouldn't be celebrated on January 26

Opinion: On Tuesday morning, Pip had shared a letter to a publication (pictured) which argued that Australia Day shouldn’t be celebrated on January 26

On Tuesday morning, Pip took to Instagram Stories to share a letter that had been printed in a publication which argued that Australia Day should not be celebrated on January 26 – the date when Britain’s First Fleet arrived at Sydney Cove.

The post put forward a hypothetical question – if modern Australia were invaded and the locals were then subject to the same mistreatment as Aborigines were in the colonial era ‘would we and our descendants want to “celebrate” the anniversary of that day’?

Mixed messages: Hours later, Pip uploaded photos from an Australia Day party she attended, and wrote: 'A day to celebrate the land that we live and thrive on. I love you, Australia'

Mixed messages: Hours later, Pip uploaded photos from an Australia Day party she attended, and wrote: ‘A day to celebrate the land that we live and thrive on. I love you, Australia’

'Did you forget about the Story you posted earlier today? Performative activism is gross': Fans were quick to criticise Pip for posting photos from the small gathering, which involved a backyard barbecue

Celebration: Fans were quick to criticise Pip for posting photos from the small gathering, which involved a backyard barbecue 

‘I think not. So why would we expect First Nations people to feel differently and why would those in positions of power be so insensitive to ignore what this day truly means? What have we got to lose by changing the date of Australia Day?’

Pip endorsed the letter’s message by captioning her post: ‘IN BLACK AND WHITE.’ 

She later posted photos from a small backyard barbecue, with guests including Pip’s boyfriend, retired Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke.

Criticism: Followers were quick to expose her double standards - condemning Australia Day one moment, and celebrating it the next

Criticism: Followers were quick to expose her double standards – condemning Australia Day one moment, and celebrating it the next

Followers were quick to expose her double standards – condemning Australia Day one moment, and celebrating it the next. 

Others branded her posts ’embarrassing’, ‘inappropriate’, ‘completely tone deaf’ and ‘downright insensitive’.

She also shared a video of a man raising both the Australian and Aboriginal flags, but the Aboriginal flag was flown upside down by mistake.  

Getting it wrong: She also shared a video of a man raising both the Australian and Aboriginal flags, but the Aboriginal flag was flown upside down by mistake

Getting it wrong: She also shared a video of a man raising both the Australian and Aboriginal flags, but the Aboriginal flag was flown upside down by mistake

On Wednesday, Pip issued a grovelling apology to those she had offended with her Australia Day posts.  

‘I want to express my sincere apologies to those that I have offended,’ Pip told her social media followers. 

‘My intentions were always from a good place, in support of all people, wanting unity and community in this country and globally,’ the mother of one continued. 

'My intentions were always from a good place': On Wednesday, Pip issued a public apology to those she had offended with her Australia Day posts

‘My intentions were always from a good place’: On Wednesday, Pip issued a public apology to those she had offended with her Australia Day posts 

Pip insisted she had ‘no idea’ the Aboriginal flag was upside down in the photos she uploaded from Tuesday’s backyard party.

‘I innocently did not realise that the Aboriginal flag was upside down and was more focused on the idea of raising both flags together on the one pole, flying as one. I understand it was a huge mistake to not know at the time but my intention was never to cause disrespect,’ she wrote. 

She also expressed regret over sharing another Australia Day post on Tuesday that read: ‘A day to celebrate the land that we live and thrive on. I love you, Australia.’

Sorrow: 'I want to express my sincere apologies to those that I have offended,' the mother of one wrote on Instagram next to a photo of the beach on Wednesday morning

Sorrow: ‘I want to express my sincere apologies to those that I have offended,’ the mother of one wrote on Instagram next to a photo of the beach on Wednesday morning 

Apologising for her choice of words, Pip said she’d made the error of incorrectly using the phrase ‘celebrate the land’ when she should have said ‘acknowledge the land’.

‘Again, a big mistake on my part and for that I deeply apologise,’ Pip concluded.   

Pip has switched off her Instagram comments in the wake of the backlash.

'Big mistake': Apologising for her choice of words, Pip said she'd made the error of incorrectly using the phrase 'celebrate the land' when she should have said 'acknowledge the land'

‘Big mistake’: Apologising for her choice of words, Pip said she’d made the error of incorrectly using the phrase ‘celebrate the land’ when she should have said ‘acknowledge the land’