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'What's the deal with Asians?' Red Symons under fire over controversial interview

Rob Moran

ABC Radio has gone into delayed damage control following presenter Red Symons' offensive remarks to a fellow broadcaster.

The former Hey Hey It's Saturday star, who hosts ABC Radio Melbourne's Breakfast slot, came under fire over an interview with ABC Radio podcaster Beverley Wang, in which he asked the presenter if she was "yellow" and "What's the deal with Asians?".

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Red Symons' controversial interview

A discussion between podcaster Beverly Wang and radio host Red Symons has him asking her, "Are you yellow?" among other things.

Australia's Race Discrimination Commissioner Tim Soutphommasane said while it is important to discuss race, those conversations must be respectful.

"Racism doesn't require malice in your heart. It is as much about impact as it is about intent," he said.

"It's important we're able to talk about race, but let's do it with respect. Too often prejudice is tolerated as good-natured banter, when it should be rejected for the racism it represents."

The full audio of the interview, shared online by Wang, has since been pulled from the Radio National website, along with an edited interview from Symons' show that originally aired on the station on Monday.

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"A review of the editorial processes around this content and its use is in progress," ABC Radio said in an official statement.

"ABC Radio apologises for the content going to air."

The station has not responded to questions on whether Symons will face any disciplinary action over his comments.

However, when pressed on whether the review included the remarks made by Symons a spokesman for ABC said "the whole thing is under review".

Symons will return to his show on Monday.

Wang had been a guest on Symons' show to discuss her new podcast It's Not a Race, when the conversation took an immediate uncomfortable turn.

Opening the interview, Symons told Wang he was "not happy" over her show because he had a similar idea for a radio segment about "contemporary race issues in Australia".

"Except my segment was called 'What's the deal with Asians?'," he said.

"Well, let's tackle that," Wang replied. "What is the deal with Asians, Red?"

"No, I ask the questions," the host replied.

"It's just a useful general question about the nature of our culture, and how one should, can, might interact with people who might have a different cultural background.

"First question is, are they all the same?" he asked.

The uncomfortable exchange continued when Symons asked Wang – who was born in Canada, of Taiwanese descent – if she was "yellow", where she was from in China, and if "they" spoke "Mandarin or Cantonese".

"Who's 'they'?" Wang replied.

"The people in Taiwan!" Symons responded, voice rising.

"They speak Taiwanese and they speak Mandarin. And in Canada where I'm from, they speak English and French," Wang replied.

"I knew that. But you're probably from the west coast of Canada..." Symons said.

"Why's that, Red?" Wang countered.

"Because it's closer to Asia."

Throughout the remainder of the 20-minute exchange, Symons also defended Hey Hey It's Saturday's infamous Red Faces "blackface" controversy, facetiously challenged discussions about "cultural appropriation", and got Wang's name wrong, referring to her as "Jenny".

Sources inside the ABC told Fairfax Media

the full audio was never intended to be broadcast, with the version going to air during Monday's program being heavily edited.

The episode drew wide criticism on social media from commenters who cringed at Symons' antagonistic approach to discussing race, and his "bonkers" questions to Wang.

Symons and Wang have been approached for comment.