Earlier today it was announced that our eternally revered Queen Lee Lin Chin had quit SBS, with one final appearance behind the desk at World News this Sunday.
[jwplayer wiI1jN99]
To say the very least, Australia is shattered.
Chin’s 30+ year with the broadcaster made her one of the most recognisable and undoubtedly stylish newsreaders in the industry. Over the past few years, Chin has been involved in iconic sketches with SBS Viceland’s The Feed.
Who could ever forget the Jakarta-born journalist reading her own Mean Tweets to just about everyone.
Then in 2016, Chin was nominated for SBS’ first-ever Gold Logie.
The human icon announced her leave to Sandra Sully in an exclusive interview with TenDaily (read into that if you wish):
There’s not one big reason, there’s many small to medium-sized reasons, which for the time being I wish to keep to myself but may talk about one day. One reason I shall reveal however is that working two days a week didn’t give me enough time to devote to the pub and re-reading the complete works of Shakespeare. So now that I work zero days that issue has been addressed.
Absolutely legendary.
Since the news broke, tributes have been pouring in on Twitter with many Asian-Australians thanking Chin for being one of the very few and constant faces of Asian representation, one that didn’t anglicise her name:
I joke, but Lee Lin Chin has been an inspiration. Unflappable, professional and talented she broke the mould of what you needed to look, act and sound like to be on Australian TV. For most of her more than 30 years at SBS she’s been the only regular Asian face on our screens.
— Adam Liaw (@adamliaw) July 26, 2018
LEE LIN CHIN + CINDY PAN WAS ALL THE ASIAN AUS REPRESENTATION I HAD ON TV GROWING UP, NOW THERE’S LIKE 10 ASIAN PEOPLE ON TV BUT THEY’RE ALL ON MASTERCHEF, DO NOT LEAVE US LIKE THIS LEE LIN!!!!
— Michelle Law 羅敏儀 (@ms_michellelaw) July 26, 2018
Lee Lin Chin was a representation I didn’t know I needed: a strong, successful, unconventional Asian woman that stood on her own. Who else is there to take her throne?
— Ria (@toyomansi) July 26, 2018
@LeeLinChinSBS I don’t even know where to begin honouring you. My entire life, the words “Hello I’m Lee Lin Chin” meant it was time to strap in for some truth, integrity, and candor. I’ve watched your bulletins from all over the world. You inspired me to be a reporter. Thank you.
— Hannah Gee (@HannahAlexiaGee) July 26, 2018
Thank you @LeeLinChinSBS for inspiring a little Rashell into journalism. And thank you @Sandra_Sully for this brilliant piece. | @tendailyau https://t.co/015bBkX6wc
— Rashell Habib (@RashellHa) July 26, 2018
LEE LIN! End of an era. Thank you @LeeLinChinSBS for being an incredible force, a brilliant journalist, a style icon. What a woman to grow up with, watching on screen.
Also, exclusively reported by @channelten? I wonder what’s next for Lee Lin Chin… https://t.co/2CETHoATFF
— Zan Rowe (@zanrowe) July 26, 2018
https://twitter.com/jessejearle/status/1022394554270474241
Others were just gutted:
https://twitter.com/eatmeetswest/status/1022365237452857345
this is the worst day in australian media ever https://t.co/3bKnCCCklB
— Georgia Kriz 🏳️🌈 (@georgiakriz) July 26, 2018
I’m crying on the couch with a glass of wine after hearing that Lee Lin Chin is retiring how is your Thursday going
— @actuallydandy@aus.social 🏳️🌈💚 (@actuallydandy) July 26, 2018
Lee Lin Chin has resigned and i have no reason to watch tv anymore
— ✿MANAGER✿ (@xcxtev) July 26, 2018
Oh god, Lee Lin Chin is leaving SBS! We made a terrible, terrible mistake opening that black sarcophagus.
— @robcoco@aus.social (@RobCoco) July 26, 2018
SBS also put together just a fraction of Chin’s most iconic looks and a montage of her work behind the World News desk:
Has there ever been a newsreader with such style? @LeeLinChinSBS pic.twitter.com/d5dbIZhV5h
— SBS Australia (@SBS) July 26, 2018
Farewell @LeeLinChinSBS. We’ll miss you! https://t.co/MJdVSSVmgr pic.twitter.com/bu2qXArPoK
— SBS News (@SBSNews) July 26, 2018
There’s even a goddamn Facebook page dedicated to every single one of Lee Lin Chin’s Asymmetrical Outfits.
But, in some good news Chin is not retiring – just quitting.
In her words: “Retirement is death and I don’t plan to die anytime soon.”
Once again because I need to stress this for myself:
I have not retired, simply resigned. Retirement is death.
— Lee Lin Chin (@LeeLinChin) July 26, 2018
You can read TenDaily’s full interview with Chin, HERE.
Anton Enus will return to SBS World News after beating bowel cancer.
P.S
Fairfax: Today is a good day to crush Australia’s spirit.
Lee Lin Chin: Hold my beer.
— Revolt-ing (@the_very_least) July 26, 2018
