Kerri-Anne Kennerley doesn’t ‘give a toss’ what her critics think

With a career in television spanning over 50 years, Kerri-Anne Kennerley has been at the centre of numerous controversies.

The 66-year-old has been accused of sl*t-shaming her colleague, and once came to blows with Yumi Stynes after being branded a ‘racist’ in an ugly TV spat.

In an interview with The Courier Mail on Sunday, the Studio 10 panellist said she doesn’t ‘give a toss’ what her critics think, and that political correctness has resulted in the death of the Aussie larrikin.

‘I am who I am and I am not going to change for other people,’ a defiant Kerri-Anne told the publication.

The journalist, who refrains from checking Facebook and Twitter, said the only opinions that matter are from her family and friends. 

‘Anybody else, people I don’t know or don’t have the same thought process, like most of those on Twitter, I don’t give a toss,’ she explained.

Kerri-Anne added that she’s concerned political correctness has made Australians fearful of having a laugh.

‘I think there is a lot to be said for that because we have gone so woke these days that so many people are actually frightened to say what they think or have a joke, for God’s sake,’ she said. 

In December, Kerri-Anne was accused of ‘sl*t-shaming’ her Studio 10 colleague Antoinette Lattouf. 

Antoinette was seated next to the TV stalwart when Kerri-Anne made a quip about her chosen ensemble.

‘Did you forget your pants today?’ Kerri-Anne asked, referencing Antoinette’s short white playsuit.

Although Antoinette laughed off the comment, their co-panellists appeared shocked by the remark.

Fellow host Angela Bishop seemed determined to rectify the situation, with the 52-year-old telling Kerri-Anne: ‘She looks unbelievable!’

But Kerri-Anne wasn’t done yet, adding that Antoinette was ‘going to be thirsty’, a clear reference to an earlier discussion about the usage of the term in pop culture.

According to Urban Dictionary, ‘thirsty’ is another way of saying ‘horny’.  

Many viewers, including commentator Clementine Ford, weren’t prepared to let her comments slide.

‘Why is Kerri-Anne Kennerley sl*t shaming her colleague here on @Studio10au? @antoinette_news deserves an apology Kerri-Anne needs to finally be put in the bin where she belongs,’ Clementine tweeted.  

Meanwhile in February last year, Kerri-Anne came to verbal blows with Yumi Stynes on Studio 10 about people protesting to change the date of Australia Day.

Kerri-Anne dismissed ‘Invasion Day’ protesters, insinuating none of them had ever been to the Outback and were championing the plight of Indigenous Australians under false pretenses.

In an opinion piece for The Daily Telegraph, Kerri-Anne admitted that the delivery of her point could have been made smoother, but stressed she was only trying to highlight ‘abuse here and now’. 

And in October, Kerri-Anne launched a blistering rant at climate change protesters as a week of demonstrations paralysed the country. 

The Studio 10 pundit said that protesters causing disruption should be used as speed bumps or starved in jail.

The panel was discussing the Queensland government’s plan to allow tougher sentences for protesters breaking the law.

Kerri-Anne said she supported the move, adding: ‘Personally, I would leave them all super glued to wherever they do it.’