Yumi Stynes
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2012}}{{Short description|Australian feminist television and radio presenter, podcaster and author}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Yumi Tasma Stynes
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| birth_name = Yumi Tasma Stymes
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1975|6|2|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Swan Hill, Victoria, Australia
| nationality = Australian
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| occupation = Television and radio presenter, author, podcaster
| years_active = 2000–present
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}}
Yumi Tasma Stynes (born 2 June 1975) is an Australian feminist podcaster and author. She is the presenter of the ABC Radio podcast Ladies, We Need to Talk about female health and sexuality,{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/ladies-we-need-to-talk/|title=Ladies, We Need To Talk|website=abc.net.au|language=en|access-date=2017-09-21}} and the [https://www.sbs.com.au/audio/podcasts SBS Audio] podcast, [https://www.sbs.com.au/audio/podcast/seen SEEN], where she talks with trailblazers from communities outside the mainstream. Between 2010 and 2012, she presented the morning television show The Circle and was previously a television presenter on Channel V Australia and Max. During 2013 she was a presenter on Sydney's Mix 106.5 FM radio breakfast program.{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/sami-lukis-and-yumi-stynes-join-forces-for-radio/story-e6frfmqi-1226530480569|title=Sami and Yumi on radio – no digger jokes, please|access-date=24 June 2017}} A portrait of Stynes by Yoshio Honjo was a finalist for the 2022 Archibald Prize.{{Cite web |title=Archibald Prize Archibald 2022 work: Yumi Stynes as onna-musha (female samurai) by Yoshio Honjo |url=https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/2022/30428/ |access-date=2022-05-06 |website=Art Gallery of New South Wales |language=en}}
Early life
Stynes was born and grew up in Swan Hill, Victoria, Australia. Her mother is Japanese and her father was fifth generation Australian.{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/i-hope-our-boys-can-be-taught-that-theyre-allowed-to-be-sweet-and-cry--and-seek-comfort-says-yumi-stynes-20180316-h0xkvx.html|title='I hope our boys can be taught that they're allowed to cry': Yumi Stynes|last=O'Brien|first=Kerrie|date=23 March 2018|access-date=5 February 2019|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad/yumi-a-wild-child-no-longer/story-fn6bn9st-1225992579566 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161016024649/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad/yumi-a-wild-child-no-longer/story-fn6bn9st-1225992579566 |archive-date=16 October 2016 |url-status=dead|last=Miller |first=Megan |title=Yumi a wild child no longer |access-date=1 March 2012 |newspaper=Herald Sun |date=22 January 2011}} She spent her teenage years in Melbourne attending Methodist Ladies College in Kew, Victoria before moving to Sydney to work for Channel V Australia.Kalina, Paul: [http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/tv--radio/tens-turn-to-try-a-womens-panel-show/2010/02/03/1265151904057.html Ten's turn to try a women's panel show], The Age, 4 February 2010.
Career
=Radio=
In August 2011, Stynes hosted 3PM Pick-Up with Chrissie Swan, broadcast nationally on Mix 101.1, Mix 106.5, Mix 102.3, Mix 106.3 & 97.3 FM. She remained co-host until August 2012 and was replaced by Jane Hall.
In January 2013, Stynes hosted Mix 106.5's breakfast program with Sami Lukis the first all-female team on FM commercial radio in Sydney.
In January 2017, Stynes joined the KIIS Network to host 3PM Pick-Up with Katie 'Monty' Dimond and Rebecca Judd. She remained co-host until December 2022, when the show was cancelled.{{Cite web |last=Mediaweek |date=2022-10-30 |title=KIIS FM axes 3PM Pick Up with Kate Langbroek, Monty Dimond and Yumi Stynes |url=https://www.mediaweek.com.au/kiis-fm-axes-3pm-pick-up/ |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=Mediaweek |language=en-AU}}
=Television=
Stynes's television career began in 2000 as a presenter for Channel V Australia. In 2007, she moved across to MAX where she presented The Know. From 2010 until 2012, Stynes hosted Network Ten's morning show, The Circle.{{cite news |title=Personalities: Yumi Stynes |url=http://ten.com.au/the-circle-yumi-stynes.htm |work=Network Ten |access-date=22 July 2010}}
In 2018 Stynes hosted a documentary on SBS called Is Australia Sexist?{{Cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/programs/is-australia-sexist/article/2018/11/01/sbs-and-yumi-stynes-tackle-question-australia-sexist|title=SBS and Yumi Stynes tackle the question, 'Is Australia Sexist?'|website=Programs|date=November 2018 |access-date=2019-08-20}}
=Ben Roberts-Smith incident=
On the 28 February 2012 episode of The Circle, along with George Negus, Stynes made comments about a photo of former soldier Ben Roberts-Smith coming out of a swimming pool, saying, "He's going to dive down to the bottom of the pool to see if his brain is there", while Negus replied in part, "what if [he's] not up to it in the sack?"{{cite news|title=Hate campaign continues|url= http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/yumi-threatened-the-circle-hatecampaign-intensifies-as-more-sponsors-flee-20120306-1uh3n.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald}} After tabloid criticism,{{cite web |url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/today-tonight/celebrity/article/-/13050840/war-hero-hounded-on-tv/ |title=War hero hounded on TV - Today Tonight |access-date=1 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019151827/http://au.news.yahoo.com/today-tonight/celebrity/article/-/13050840/war-hero-hounded-on-tv/ |archive-date=19 October 2013 }} they personally contacted Roberts-Smith who accepted their apology and agreed there was no malicious intent.{{cite news|title=VC recipient accepts apology for insults|url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/vc-hero-accepts-apology-for-insults-20120229-1u36o.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald}} Negus said his comments were taken out of context and he was not referring personally to Roberts-Smith.{{cite news| url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/i-feel-sick-circle-host-shocked-at-backlash-over-soldiers-dud-root-slur-20120229-1u1mr.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | title='I feel sick': Circle host shocked at backlash over soldier's 'dud root' slur}}
On 13 September 2014, Fairfax newspapers issued an apology to Stynes and Negus, stating "Our interpretation was wrong and we accept that both Mr Negus and Ms Stynes were not referring to Cpl Roberts-Smith personally."{{Cite web|url=http://mumbrella.com.au/fairfax-apologises-stynes-negus-stories-linked-comments-soldiers-sexual-prowess-use-ivf-251512|title = Fairfax apologises to Stynes and Negus over articles on 'dud root' soldier comments|date = 17 September 2014}}
News Limited publications, The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun and news.com.au also retracted the incorrect allegations.{{Cite web |url=http://yumistynes.net/NEWSLIMITED_RETRACTIONS.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=8 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210063130/http://yumistynes.net/NEWSLIMITED_RETRACTIONS.pdf |archive-date=10 December 2014 |url-status=dead }}
=Kerri-Anne Kennerley incident=
On 28 January 2019, Yumi Stynes appeared as a guest panelist on Studio 10 where discussion included Australia Day protesters who call it Invasion Day.
During this Kerri-Anne Kennerley asked
"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,"
to which Stynes responded "That is not even faintly true, Kerri-Anne, and you’re sounding quite racist now."
Later, while speaking on-air with 2GB's Ben Fordham, Kennerley said Stynes "probably misunderstood" her comments.{{cite web|url=https://www.2gb.com/studio-10-panellist-accuses-tv-legend-of-racism-over-australia-day-protest/ |title=Studio 10 panellist accuses TV legend of racism over Australia Day protest.|date=28 January 2019|publisher=Macquarie Media|accessdate=17 April 2020}} The following day Stynes called in "sick" for a booked appearance on Studio 10, stating on Instagram that it was not related to what happened the day before although she later clarified that "the reason I didn't go on the show is because it's not for me to argue Indigenous rights."{{cite web|url=https://tendaily.com.au/news/a190128mhx/kerri-anne-kennerley-calls-out-yumi-stynes-for-not-showing-up-to-studio-10-20190128|title=Kerri-Anne Kennerley Calls Out Yumi Stynes For Not Showing Up To Studio 10|last=Morgan|first=Michaela|date=29 January 2019|work=10 daily|access-date=29 January 2019}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.kiis1065.com.au/shows/kyle-jackie-o/kyle-and-jackie-o-yumi-stynes-kerri-anne-kennerley-face-off-again-australia-day-protests|title=Yumi Stynes And Kerri-Anne Kennerley Face Off AGAIN Live On Kyle And Jackie O|website=KIIS 1065 Sydney|access-date=2019-02-01}} She also claimed that she "would have been walking into a trap" if she appeared again on Studio 10 the next day.{{cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/morning-shows/yumi-stynes-cancel-studio-10-appearance-not-my-problem/news-story/630554e40289b4e0e82ced293361dbf7|title=Studio 10 racism row fires up between Yumi Stynes and Kerri-Anne Kennerley|last=Bond|first=Nick|date=30 January 2019|work=tv & radio|publisher=news.com.au|accessdate=31 January 2019}} Stynes instead participated in a radio interview on The Kyle and Jackie O Show, saying "Kennerley has been around forever, she’s like a cockroach, she can’t be extinguished".{{Cite web|url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/tv/yumi-stynes-calls-kerri-anne-kennerley-a-cockroach-and-calls-in-sick-after-studio-10-debate-ng-b881087951z|title=Yumi dubs KAK a 'cockroach'|date=29 January 2019|website=PerthNow}} During that radio interview, the hosts conducted a phone interview with Kennerley to discuss the previous day's argument, before which Stynes described her as "lecturing me about racism".
The ACMA, in its review of the incident noted that "the emphatic and sweeping suggestion by Ms Kennerley of endemic sexual abuse in Indigenous communities could be capable of provoking strong negative feelings in a reasonable person".
=Podcast=
Stynes is a writer and host of ABC Radio podcast on female health and sexuality, "Ladies, We Need to Talk".
She also hosts the [https://www.sbs.com.au/audio SBS Audio] podcast [https://www.sbs.com.au/audio/podcast/seen SEEN], an interview podcast with inspirational Australians who have come from under-represented backgrounds and communities, and have made astonishing impacts on our culture.
=Publications=
Stynes's 2023 book Welcome to Sex, co-authored with Dr Melissa Kang, was pulled from sale in Big W stores after criticism from conservatives and "abuse" from customers. Criticism centered around the explicit information and illustrations in the book, together with Stynes' assertion that she would be happy if an 8 year-old read it. Stynes stated, "It does make me think that they're taking a leaf out of the book of Trumpism and fearmongering there", stating that some of the content of the book was taken from "genuine questions asked by adolescents to Dolly Doctor for more than 20 years".{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/books/taking-a-leaf-from-trumpism-yumi-stynes-on-the-misguided-backlash-to-sex-book-20230720-p5dpvm.html|title='Taking a leaf out of Trumpism': Yumi Stynes on the 'misguided' backlash to sex book|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|last1=Geraets|first1=Neil|last2=Faruqi|first2=Osman|date=20 July 2023|access-date=23 July 2023}} In 2024 the book won the Book of the Year for Older Children (ages 13+) at the Australian Book Industry Awards.{{Cite web |last=ABIA |date=2024-05-09 |title=Australian Book Industry Award Winners 2024 |url=https://abiawards.com.au/abia-winners-2024/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=ABIA |language=en-AU}} It was shortlisted for both the Young Adult Indie Book Award{{Cite web |date=2024-01-17 |title=Indie Book Awards 2024 shortlists announced |url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2024/01/17/245506/indie-book-awards-2024-shortlists-announced/ |access-date=2024-01-17 |publisher=Books+Publishing}} and the Prime Minister's Literary Award for Young Adult Literature in 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-15 |title=Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2024 shortlists announced |url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2024/08/15/257101/prime-ministers-literary-awards-2024-shortlists-announced/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |publisher=Books+Publishing}}
Bibliography
- The Zero Fucks Cookbook: Best Food Least Effort, {{ISBN|9781743793947|}}
- Zero Fucks Cooking: Endless Summer, {{ISBN|9781743795088|}}
- Welcome to Your Period (co-authored with Dr Melissa Kang aka "Dolly Doctor"), {{ISBN|9781760503512|}}
- Welcome to Consent (co-authored with Dr Melissa Kang aka "Dolly Doctor"), ISBN
- Welcome to Your Boobs (co-authored with Dr Melissa Kang aka "Dolly Doctor"){{Cite book |title=Welcome to Your Boobs |isbn=9781760507503}}
- Welcome to Sex (co-authored with Dr Melissa Kang aka "Dolly Doctor"){{Cite book |title=Welcome to Sex |isbn=9781760509538}}
- Ladies, We Need to Talk (co-authored with Claudine Ryan), ISBN 9781743797518
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://ten.com.au/the-circle.htm The Circle]
{{Authority control}}
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Category:People from Swan Hill
Category:Australian people of Japanese descent
Category:Australian video jockeys
Category:Australian women music critics
Category:Australian music journalists
Category:Australian women radio presenters
Category:Australian women television presenters
Category:Australian women podcasters
Category:Australian television presenters
Category:Australian music critics