Yumi Stynes cancel Studio 10 appearance: ‘Not my problem’
Protesters have gathered outside Studio 10 as the show’s former boss claims Yumi Stynes was barred from the show during his time in charge.
Studio 10 panellist Yumi Stynes has cancelled her planned appearance on the show today, following a bitter clash with veteran presenter Kerri-Anne Kennerley during yesterday’s episode.
The argument began when the panel was discussing the weekend’s “Invasion Day” protests, in which thousands of Australians took to the street to call for changing the date of Australia Day.
Kennerley asked whether any of the protesters had “been out to the Outback, where children, babies, five-year-olds are being raped? Their mothers are being raped, their sisters are being raped. What have you done?”
Stynes said her statements were “not even faintly true” and sounded “quite racist”.
“Keep going then, because every time you open your mouth you’re sounding racist,” said Stynes.
‘I WON’T BE COMING IN’
Posting to the Instagram account for her cookbook Zero F**ks Cooking, Stynes revealed that she was booked to appear on the show today — but had given herself a day off.
“I was booked come in to showcase a recipe from one of my cookbooks … INSTEAD, I decided to give myself the day off. This is not because of what happened today between Kerri-Anne and I. I am feeling stable and calm and like I’m on the right side of history. Everything is OK. I’m not coming in because I really urgently want to lie around and do nothing. It’s very important,” she wrote.
“I told the new producer Tamara that I won’t be coming in tomorrow. I also gave her the number of my good friend James Mathison who kindly offered to fill in for me as he is available and has done the show a bunch of times and therefore I would not be leaving the hardworking team in the lurch. I have no idea if she will take me up on the suggestion and it’s not my problem.”
Studio 10 host Harris addressed Stynes’ absence from the panel at the start of today’s show, saying they “wanted her here” and explaining that the panel would delve further in to the issue — this time with indigenous voices leading the discussion.
Greens MP Lidia Thorpe and Alice Springs councillor and Country Liberal Party candidate Jacinta Nampijinpa will appear later on in today’s episode.
Stynes may not be there, but a group of protesters have gathered outside Ten’s Sydney studio this morning:
‘THIS IS WHY I NEVER LET HER ON STUDIO 10’
Former Studio 10 executive producer Rob McKnight has come out in support of Kennerley in an opinion piece published overnight titled Today is exactly why I never let Yumi Stynes on Studio 10. In the piece, McKnight acknowledges that he has never met Stynes but reveals he “never allowed her” to appear on Studio 10 during his four-year tenure as EP.
He accused Stynes of throwing her co-star “under the bus” — “and that’s not cool”.
“Labels like (racist) have the ability to damage a career and it looked like Yumi just didn’t care,” he writes, declaring that he’d “always had a bad feeling about a personality like Yumi’s being on morning television.”
McKnight’s views were met with a mixed response on social media.
Racism and structural white supremacy is a TV producer condemning a WOC for calling a white woman out for being racist on morning TV, because it isn't 'nice'. This article is total bullshit but Yumi is â¤ï¸ https://t.co/Mxa48UiyiX
— Clementine Ford 🧟â€â™€ï¸ (@clementine_ford) January 28, 2019
She was amazing. Racism should always be called out never in a “gentle, lady-like†way.
— Rachel McVay (@kittydevine123) January 28, 2019
KAK was making a valid point about documented cases of neglect and abuse in some communities, and she was right. Why anyone would still hire Yumi after her track record is beyond me. She's done everyone a favour by cancelling her next appearance
— Damien Haffenden (@DamienHaffenden) January 28, 2019
Why? Because she had the guts to call somebody out for their blatant racism? Because she represents the voice of many Australian women and you don't like us having one? All of the above?
— Suzi.J💋🌈 (@TankGirlTude) January 28, 2019
I think Kerri-Anne was poorly treated. She clearly has knowledge on the topic but was discouraged from airing her views. I once met with some young (and abused) aboriginal girls & some of their stories still shake me up. Truth is truth, even if it's not popular.
— Gwyneth Montenegro (@ThisIsGwyneth) January 28, 2019
‘I STATED A FACT’
Yesterday afternoon Kennerley hit back at the criticism, telling Ben Fordham on 2GB that her comments about sexual abuse in outback Aboriginal communities had “nothing to do” with racism.
“I can only assume that Yumi doesn’t know it is a fact of life because I never made a racist comment,” she said.
“I don’t think I’m superior, I don’t think anyone else is inferior, but I just stated a fact.”
After doubling down on her comments, Kennerley went on to say she was still offended by Stynes’ accusations she had sounded racist.
“I’m still offended by it, because that sort of headline you and I both know being in the media we will see that again and again, and as soon as you Google something Kerri-Anne’s a racist,” she said.
“I do take very big personal exception to being called a racist.”
Kennerley dodged Fordham’s question on whether Stynes had apologised after their confrontation.
“I’m old enough to know, we’re big girls, we can get on with it,” she said. “I haven’t spoken to her about it because work finishes off you go and you get on with our real lives.
“But I do feel concerned that somebody won’t read it, won’t hear it, won’t understand what the discussion was about.”
DEBATE RAGES
The disagreement between Kennerley and Stynes spilt over to the final segment of yesterday’s episode, with host Sarah Harris attempting to play peacemaker between the pair.
As the episode ended, Harris addressed the earlier “fiery” conflict, saying they “make no apologies for it.”
“Yumi and I had a difference of opinion, but that’s called a mature society where you can have different opinions without name-calling. It’s called TOLERANCE,” said Kennerley.
Harris and Joe Hildebrand both repeatedly stressed that they were “all friends”, before Kennerley called on Stynes, who had remained silent.
“Yumi, I’m looking for a comment back here.”
“Well, you did say name-calling …” said Stynes.
“You called me a racist,” said Kennerley.
“And you are implying that I did the wrong thing by saying that to you,” Stynes continued — promising they would continue the debate in the next episode, and even offering Kennerley a sarcastic-sounding “love you” through gritted teeth.
After the episode, debate raged on social media:
Confirming: yes, Kerri-Anne Kennelly is a racist and yet another person who feels it is okay to use abused Aboriginal women as the ultimate trump card to denigrate Aboriginal activism. She cares nothing for the welfare of Aboriginal women, she just wants us to be quiet on 26/1
— Celeste Liddle (@Utopiana) January 28, 2019
“I haven’t spoken to her about it because work finishes off you go and you get on with our real lives.†Kerri-Anne
— Nyadol Nyuon (@NyadolNyuon) January 28, 2019
Interesting, would have thought she cared more about the sexual abuse she was talking about, but apparently, it was just “work†and she is now off to “real†life.
Kerri-Anne I have no words except, get off the screens; ignorant and uninformed - making generalised comments does not reflect the many communities I visit. Everyone wants everyone safe & well - Harmful & damaging comments!!
— Joe Williams - TEW (@joewilliams_tew) January 28, 2019
Thank you @yumichild rock solid sister!! https://t.co/F0nCyQONf6
When the only non-White person on the panel calls out your racism, don't get "offended", try learning why you might be racist. Also, if you're going to talk about indigenous issues, try having an indigenous person on. HOW IS THIS STILL HAVING TO BE STATEDhttps://t.co/YQsKW0CX32
— Sami Shah (@samishah) January 28, 2019
There were no blurry lines to your comments Kerri-Anne, it was blantalty racist and offensive. @Studio10au I'm disgusted. Thankyou @yumichild for calling this out. Much respect 🖤💛â¤ï¸ @IndigenousX https://t.co/rXTsWcfQke
— Charlee-Sue (@CharleeSueFrail) January 28, 2019
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