Studio 10 panellist accuses TV veteran of racism after she refers to rape during discussion about Invasion Day protests

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

The Studio 10 co-host Kerri-Anne Kennerley has been accused of racism by fellow panellist Yumi Stynes after the veteran presenter talked about sexual violence in Indigenous communities during a discussion about Invasion Day protests.

Kennerley attacked the motives of the protesters who want the date of Australia Day changed by implying they were ignoring the alleged rape of children and women in the “outback”.

Studio 10 (@Studio10au) "You're sounding quite racist right now." @yumichild says to Kerri-Anne as they clash over Australia Day & #ChangeTheDate. #Studio10 pic.twitter.com/qI2qBsiT9t

“Has any single one of those 5,000 people waving the flags saying how inappropriate the day is, has any one of them been out to the outback where children, where babies and five-year-olds are being raped, their mothers are being raped, their sisters are being raped. They get no education,” Kennerley said on the Ten morning show.

Nova Peris OAM OLY MAICD (@NovaPeris) Disgusting! This debate is about us Aboriginal ppl being valued & respected as a race, acknowledging our resilience & survival. Many people of all races are now marching & supporting our struggle. Putrid & ignorant comments from KAK. Thanks @yumichild ♥️ #WhitePrivilege #racism https://t.co/6gjOnevY0F

Tens of thousands of people joined Invasion Day marches around the country on Saturday calling for the public holiday to be abolished, with the largest gathering in Melbourne.

Huge crowds attend Invasion Day marches across Australia's capital cities Read more

“What have you done?” Kennerley hypothetically asked the Invasion Day protesters. “Zippo!”

Stynes, a guest presenter, was the only one to respond, saying: “That is not even faintly true Kerri-Anne and you’re sounding quite racist now.”

Kennerley, one of television’s most recognisable faces with a string of hit shows to her name, hit back angrily, saying “I’m offended by that, Yumi”.

Stynes: “Well, keep going then, because every time you open your mouth, you’re sounding racist.

brendan (@macleanbrendan) KAK: Cherry picks information to draw an offensive line between the indigenous community and rape while also blaming protest for it.



YUMI: That's racist.



KAK: I'm offended! It is in fact me who is the victim!!!!

Kennerley said “Aboriginal elder women” were desperate for help to prevent sexual violence in their communities but the Australia Day protesters had done “nothing”.

“Where are these people on one day of the year? You’d be better off going and doing something positive,” she said.

Stynes said Kennerley’s implication was that “women aren’t being raped here in big cities and children aren’t being raped here in big cities” and she defended the protesters.

Tens of thousands take part in Invasion Day protests – in pictures Read more

“With that statement, you’re actually implying that those 5,000 protesters, none of whom you know personally, are all lazy and idle and indolent,” she said.

It’s the second time in as many weeks the issue of changing the date of Australia Day has erupted on commercial television. Ten days ago the Today show’s new entertainment reporter Brooke Boney, an Indigenous woman, was challenged by the sports reporter Tony Jones when she said she would like the date to change.

“But I can’t separate the 26th of January from the fact that my brothers are more likely to go to jail than school, or that my little sisters and my mum are more likely to be beaten and raped than anyone else’s sisters or mum,” Boney said on Today.