Less than two weeks after officially signing off from SBS World News, Lee Lin Chin has already set off on her first exciting retirement adventure.
The revered newsreader announced her resignation from the television network in July, much to the disappointment of her fans who have loved watching her unique style and delivery over the past 30 years.
And on Thursday, Lee bid farewell to Australia (for now) and revealed her first big adventure – a trip back home to Singapore.
Lee, who was born to Chinese parents in Jakarta, Indonesia, and grew up in Singapore before moving to Australia, has earned herself a cult following over her career, not least of all for her wild and wacky outfit choices when delivering the latest headlines to the nation.
Taking to Twitter, she wrote: “Goodbye Australia. I shall be spending the next month in Singapore. Try and catch me now Paparazzi! Seriously, try it. I will end you. In Singapore I can do whatever I like, I’m a native who became a celebrity to white people. I’m essentially above the law.”
Fans across the country flocked to bid the legend bon voyage, with one writing: “You are Queen of Australia, come back soon”.
Another added: “Have a fabulous time Lee Lin we miss you already.” And a third wrote: “You continue to surprise and delight, wherever you are. It’s in your DNA. Bon voyage!”
https://twitter.com/SVigilat/status/1027497168993538048
Announcing her resignation in July, Lee said it hadn’t been an easy choice to make.
“Having spent the bulk of my professional life at SBS, this isn’t by any means an easy decision,” Lee said. “I shall be leaving a happy and satisfying role as a newsreader. My friends and colleagues for whom I have fervent respect will be deeply missed.”
Her carefully chosen words have lead to speculation she was managed out of the building rather than choosing to go on her own terms.
An article published in The Australian claimed there had been a disagreement over Chin’s contract and described the network’s alleged most recent offer to her as “akin to a poo sandwich”.
Chin made a point in her announcement that she was not retiring, and said she had a number of projects in the works.
She told Ten Daily’s Sandra Sully she’s working on comedy travel show with ITV Australia, but conceded “once a newsreader, always a newsreader”.
“I would be very happy to read the news on a casual basis in the future if someone were willing to have me,” she said. “Let me know if you need a break, I’m sure I could give Ten a ratings boost.”
Similarly, a post on her Twitter account last week read: “I have not retired, simply resigned. Retirement is death.”