Kerri-Anne Kennerley speaks out about 'racism' clash with Yumi Stynes

Olivia Morris
·Contributor

Following her fiery clash with Yumi Stynes last week, Kerri-Anne Kennerley has now spoken out about the incident.

During a segment on Studio 10 last Monday, things between Kerri-Anne and Yumi came to a head when discussing the Australia Day date debate.

Kerri-Anne, 64, posed the question on the show whether any of the change the date protestors had “been out to the Outback, where children, babies, five-year-olds are being raped”.

However, Yumi responded stating Kerri-Anne sounded “quite racist” and branded her statements being “not even faintly true”.

Last week Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Yumi Stynes clashed over the Australia Day date debate. Source: Channel 10
Last week Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Yumi Stynes clashed over the Australia Day date debate. Source: Channel 10

The veteran television host has now broken her silence in a piece she penned for The Daily Telegraph’s Rendezview.

Acknowledging she could have been “smoother and clearer” on the matter, Kerri-Anne remained firm on her opinion that there are more “pressing” issues surrounding Indigenous communities in Australia.

“To me, the much more pressing issue for not only the indigenous community but the nation as a whole is the horrific rape of children, babies and women in indigenous communities as reported by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare,” she wrote.

In an opinion piece, Kerri-Anne admitted have been “smoother and clearer” on her statements but also remained firm on her opinion that there are more “pressing” issues surrounding Indigenous communities in Australia. Source: Channel 10
In an opinion piece, Kerri-Anne admitted have been “smoother and clearer” on her statements but also remained firm on her opinion that there are more “pressing” issues surrounding Indigenous communities in Australia. Source: Channel 10

Further defending her comments on Studio 10, Kerri-Anne said, “At no stage did I suggest that all indigenous communities or men were guilty.

“I simply asked what is being done to sort these horrendous crimes, which are much more pressing and important than protesting Australia Day.”

Last Tuesday, Yumi cancelled her appearance on Studio 10 following her dispute with Kerri-Anne, admitting on her KIIS FM radio show she felt like she would be “walking into a trap”.

“I was all set to go in, and then (on Monday) night I was just reflecting on the people they had booked to come and talk, most of whom were quite right wing, I just felt like I would have been, by going along to that, I would have been walking into a trap,” the 43-year-old said on The 3pm Pick Up.

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