News Corp boss defends controversial Serena Williams cartoon, citing ‘political correctness’
News Corp’s cartoon of an angry Serena Williams on court at the US Open final has thus far drawn the ire of celebrities including author JK Rowling and Basketballer Ben Simmons, as well as international media outlets, but the local boss of the organisation has hit out, claiming the backlash once again proves political correctness has gone too far.
The newspaper watchdog, the Australian Press Council (APC), has confirmed to Mumbrella “at least one complaint” had been received about the controversial cartoon.
My toon in today’s @theheraldsun on #SerenaWilliams @usopen pic.twitter.com/didwtQg1R5
— Mark Knight (@Knightcartoons) September 10, 2018
Give him a break! The job of a political cartoonist is to exaggerate the subject’s features as part of ridiculing their poor behavior.
Are people saying their should be an exception here because the subject is a black woman? Bullshit!
J.K. Rowling’s response is unbelievably stupid.
There has to be a line somewhere though. So where is the line?
Does this look actually like Serena Williams or like a generic racist version of an angry African American woman?
I’d say it’s pretty clearly the later.
Would it have been possible to caricature Williams and the incident without making her look like a monstrous and stereotypical racist trope?
Absolutely it would have.
So could your rush to defend the image perhaps says more about your own feelings about Serena Williams than you are perhaps willing to admit?
I’ll let you answer that one yourself.
I also think the cartoon fails as satire. Satire of what exactly? An adult acting like a child?
So we are left with depiction of an African American tennis player drawn like an angry monster.
Great work Australia! Bring back Hey Hey!
Most people look like monsters when angry, I’m sure you would agree, this includes Serena Williams, disgraceful behaviour
They do. But isn’t this image meant to depict her as a petulant child, so why instead does it look like a racist stereotype?
We can agree her behaviour was abhorrent without seizing on it as an opportunity to choose to depict via racial tropes over an actual caricature.
I’m not sure how else you would depict somebody like Serena in this scenario without accusations of racism.
I’m quite sure the Cartoonist had a genuine intent to depict her childish behavior – the Dummy on the ground – much like how Politicians/Celebrities are depicted in various situations over here.
Here’s one I thought of in 2 seconds: a pram with her hair sticking out the top, racket on the ground next to a dummy.
But that’s what’s also problematic with this cartoon, it is actually so inane it shouldn’t have made the press. Serena behaved like a spoilt brat. Well no s$*t Sherlock. Where’s the actual satire in that? Is it satirical about her claiming she’s above reproach and wouldn’t cheat but is throwing a tantrum while her coach is signalling to her? Nope. Is it a satire about her being an example or a role model for children? Nope. Is it satirical of her being a champion but behaving like the opposite? Nope.
This cartoon panders to Herald Sun readers prejudices with a depiction of her that bears no actual resemblance to her, and looks like a generic racist depiction of an angry black person from the past.
Spot on – there’s no thought or insight to it. The only attempted humour is to use racist stereotypes. An editor with any ability would have thrown it out.
It’s not super clever but it’s okay – the umpire asking ‘Can’t you just let her win?’ to stop Williams’ tantrum. I get it.
I don’t think the problem is the message or meaning behind the cartoon. It’s the way Williams is drawn in the same Jim Crow era style that is deeply offensive. Even with admittedly little knowledge of this history, my first thought when I saw the cartoon was that I was uncomfortable with the way Williams was depicted. I agree – pram and dummy spit could have done the job too.
Mind you, I don’t understand JK Rowling’s criticism of the way Osaka was drawn – she’s not meant to be the focus of the cartoon.
Disrespect, unprofessional behaviour and tantrums have nothing to do with race or gender.
Bad behaviour should be called out, regardless of the demographic.
On behalf of all tutu and lycra wearing people I am deeply offended.
I think if you look at the convergence of the primary themes (a) US Open tennis (b) clothing (c) skin colour (d) hairstyle (e) physique, hen you could only conclude that only one person on the planet would fit this ‘stereotype’. In fact I think it would befit the term ‘monotype’ apart from the fact that it is a printing process.
Here here m!
The first time I saw the cartoon, I immediately identified Serena Williams — certainly not “a generic racist version of an angry African American woman?”! But obviously YOU did. Why was that, I wonder?
This unfortunately makes us look like the small backwater we are sometimes. This wasn’t exaggerating features. This was drawing on a character style that is drawn from Jim Crow. If you don’t know who or what that is and why it is deeply offensive to African Americans then look it up. The political correctness card is usually code for I got caught with my pants around my ankles and there’s nothing to see here.
I’m trying to see how its racist or sexist? Its a caricature of her being a baby throwing a tantrum… every caricature looks like this irrespective of race or gender… Its what these cartoons do in every paper worldwide every day
And for the record Serena was a petulant brat and bad sport in the final. In no sport should an umpire be abused like that – accept the decision and move on like any other sportsperson would… oh and the hypocrisy of being a role model for her child, then behaving the way she did… You are not a champion or a role model behaving like this
It’s not sexist at all. It’s also not (I hope) intentionally racist. But it is very unfortunate that the cartoonist would portray Williams as a fat black woman that looks she belongs in a Tom & Jerry cartoon.
It is surely possible to caricature without stereotyping??
but she is fat. she’s an incredible athlete, but what distinguishes her physically (and thus what a cartoonist would look to accentuate) is her size – she carries substantially more body fat than other tennis players
M, you bang on about all this racist and sexist crap which so obviously has no bearing in this matter, have a listen to what Margaret Court, arguably the best female tennis player has to say about it. You obviously no nothing about caricatures and satire and have no sense of humour. How about instead of supporting a spoilt over pampered sook you put your energy into supporting the real victim in all this, the young japanese girl who actually won the match, yes that’s right there was a winner! and was able to overcome the fact that williams was being beaten and trying her best to put her off. Williams has form for doing this sort of thing. I only hope Naomi moves on and continues to win and display the same beautifully dignified manner she did here.
Yeah, I’m about to take lessons in ethics from Margaret Court
You were joking I hope
Ignorance of the history behind such cartoons is just straight out ignorance, And then Australians claim Australians are not racist, proof ignorance is truly bliss, Although I tend to think its willful Ignorance judging by how touchy Australians are when called out for being racist
Calling out Australians “ignorance of the history behind such cartoons is just straight out ignorance” is, of itself, a form of racism.
P.S. I believe that there is a strong underlying racist history and belief system in Australia that sickens me. But I also don’t think that this cartoon is racist. It is a cartoon of the world’s most dominant tennis player having a pretty ugly hissy-fit. Move along.
How is he meant to draw her? As a skinny white man? People need to settle down and stop being so stupidly serious. Probably the same thought police who screamed down poor Adam Bandt for daring to call his wife hot. And yes, Serena behaved like a spoilt unsporting brat too.
he was happy to draw her opponent as a skinny white woman…
the umpire is drawn as being white, Naomi Osaka is drawn with a similar complexion as to how he drew Serena (and Osaka was sporting a blonde ponytail in the final btw).
Who was actually half Japanese and Haitian. It’s times like these that make me embarrassed to be Australian.
That’s because the intent (I’m sure) was to show Ms Osaka as insignificant to the whole circus — exactly as Ms Williams would have regarded her. Let’s face it, we can’t outshine a prima donna can we?
News Ltd is gonna News Ltd
How many white men commenting above?
Don’t tone police me
How racist and sexist is your comment?
Reverse racism (or sexism) isn’t a thing
No relevance
Not sure, but there’s probably an equal amount of left-wing ideologues who love to engage in a form of cultural self loathing, followed by an appeal to white male privilege. Your comment illustrates a much bigger problem.
I think the fact that he chose to draw her opponent as a skinny, blonde, while in reality, she was an African-Japanese is more telling.
Naomi Osaka is skinny and does have a blonde ponytail – but yes its not the most accurate depiction of her.
… with bleached blond hair
Osaka is not a slight blonde thing, even next to Serena. I see more similarities here than differences.
https://www.deccanherald.com/sites/dh/files/styles/article_detail/public/article_images/2018/09/09/file71ti5967889hov3aev1.jpg
But let’s be honest, we’re lucky Osaka wasn’t drawn as a racist Japanese caricature.
For those wanting to see how you can be a talented cartoonist and not a racist, google Serena Williams illustration. Plenty of representations that avoid 1930 throwbacks.
Keep doing what you do Mark. Truth always wins. In this case your cartoon says it all about the whole incident.
How sad that adults chuck tantrums at cartoons and play the race card from the bottom of the deck.
Sums up the pathetic mentality of these pc types.
This cartoonist draws Trump and makes him look like a monster and yet no outrage from the pc tools.
At best, it’s incredibly tone deaf. At worst, it’s incredibly racist.
Anyone defending this cartoon is clearly ignorant of the history of sambo depictions and the coon caricatures of the Jim Crow era. I suggest you educate yourself (or at least do a Google image search) before reaching for the old PC gone mad trope. As always with the right’s racist dog whistling, they leave enough room for plausible deniability under satire and exaggerating features. But this cartoonist has gone there. As did the late Bill Leak (for years). It’s just that we’re too ignorant to realise it.
This global reaction isn’t PC gone mad, it’s a mirror being held up to our casual racism. Perhaps consider that before going the full Andrew Bolt.
Your associations are a scar from bygone politics & not an illustrators prejudice.
Which part is casual racism exactly?
The big lips?
The frizzy hair?
The petulant behaviour?
Some things are facts of appearance Others are the subject of ridicule.
The real shame is that many men have shown far worse behaviour on court and avoided a reprimand from the umpire. Yet when a woman stands her ground we see fit to mock her in print. The real poor taste is sexism not racism.
I know a conciliatory tone doesn’t sell, but….
– it is quite evident that many might find this drawing reminiscent of racist charactatures from a pre-civil rights era; and
– the illustrator – given his Australian background – has no racist intent
Unfortunately this has now turned into left versus right, so don’t expect a respectful resolution anytime soon….
Unfortunately, racism (like other bias) isn’t defined by intent, it is defined by outcomes. Makes me sad that discussions on basic values get charachterised as left vs right.
Completely incorrect. You’ve shifted the definition to the perception of the recipient. Racism isn’t determined by whether the individual is offended or not, but is determined by the belief & intent of the perpetrator.
@ m
Your accusation my defense of the cartoon shows some inherent racism I’m unaware of makes me want to pewk. You ignorant, patronising whatever you are. You’re clearly the racist here. I expect the cartoonist to treat her like any tennis player. Full stop. And if you’re going to do a caricature of a tennis player who happens to be black woman, with strong negro features, what are you expected to do? Seriously — what would you do ? I know — you’d let her off the hook because she’s a black woman. Nothing humorous to see here. No bad behavior to call out — because she’s a black woman.
If you weren’t so racist, you’d see her as I do, just a petulant tennis player.
Hi Pete. I would like to sincerely apologise for causing offence with my comment above. I’m not accusing you of some inherent racism for defending the cartoon, I’m questioning the immediate impulse to defend it from people and where that comes from. And it’s equally quite fair you to ask me where my impulse to attack it comes from.
I make my case why I think the depiction is questionable and why the cartoon doesn’t work above in response to your original comment. I mean this genuinely: all the best.
There’s nothing wrong with questioning the intent of the cartoonist, however in these situations what often happens is some, who haven’t made up there minds, but are still reluctant to label a person as racist, are themselves labelled as one. This then forces them into taking a position, usually in the opposite direction. The impulse to defend can often be a reaction to the impulse to accuse. Racism is a very serious accusation & shouldn’t be thrown around casually.
well said Peter.
can we also just draw a parallel with Charlie Hebdo for a minute> If we’re all going to put French flag tints on our social media and stand with Paris when their right to free speech gets attacked, we have to do it here as well. Cartoonists create caricatures. Satirists are satirical. That’s the territory.
Well said, both of you.
I fear for Australia’s future, if the critics’ opinions are anything to go by.
Charlie Hebdo was wrong
And of course the Charlie Hebdo atrocity was captured by one of the great political cartoons of recent times – David Pope’s “He Drew First”.
http://static.boredpanda.com/b.....sts-13.jpg
Cartoon looks like Serena Williams you have to admit. She was having a temper tantrum. I’m not sure how you can caricature an African American woman without it being in some way reminiscent of caricatures in more racist eras – they’re both caricatures.That doesn’t make it racist however. As always intent matters.
The brutish, ape-like Irish. The hook-nosed, furtive Hebrew. The fang-toothed, helmeted Hun. Our Australian/British culture has a long history of satirisation based on racial slurs. You would think these days we might try to avoid that, but of course much of it is likely to be subconscious. So the ‘shrunken head’ approach to Serena was very much a racist depiction. The artist could have caricatured her personally, rather than racially. Of course, that wouldn’t change the fact that she acted like a spoiled brat and totally ruined the victory for a young woman who clearly idolised her. Even superstars have bad days. This was one of her worst.
As though the government of screaming toddlers and stories coming out of Nauru aren’t enough embarrassing enough for Australia’s reputation on the world stage.
I miss Bill Leak.
OK everyone, back to selling insurance to the unsuspecting or alcohol in sporting programs to the underaged.
Think it’s important to take a step back and not knee-jerk any responses. Do I believe the cartoonist had racist intents? Absolutely no; whilst in cases of racism it’s definitely what has occurred rather than what was intended that matters, however intent on the part of Knight shouldn’t be discounted either.
All the arguments and hot takes have been made both sides so I won’t delve into them, but the one thing I take away from this is that white people cannot possibly relate to the subjugation of oppression and torment that African Americans have historically suffered. White people who are disparaging PC and offence-culture as their key arguments are wrong to do so, as they have most likely not experienced first-hand what we are discussing here.
It is important that we hear out all the debate and arguments to best inform ourselves of everyone’s point of view. Incredibly delicate and tricky subject.
This whole thing is on a par with the Victorian Premier/Police denying there isn’t a problem with young gangs of a particular colour.
There is something amazing about people living in the white privilege bubble (who have unlikely never experienced even a hint of racism in their lives) debating whether the reaction to the cartoon is ‘political correctness gone mad’.
The Herald Sun have played this dirty line for a long time and won’t stop til Matthew Guy is elected.
You’re certainly representing your alias. “White privilege bubble” – really? This illustrates a false belief that whites have never experienced racism, and that racism doesn’t exist in other cultures. No one here would deny that what blacks went through was truly horrible, nor should they deny what the jews went through either.
As you’ve just illustrated, criticising other cultures has become a cardinal sin, except if that culture is white of course..
I think the picture was deeply offensive to African Americans. I’m amazed just how many people are defending it. I’ve never felt so perplexed. To me, it’s not about Serena at all. It’s about being respectful.
Since when has satire or cartoons been respectful?
The time has come when we are going to have to ignore the permanently outraged people in our community. We will never satisfy their serial petulance.
And, judging by their numbers, they are in the minority and minorities don’t rule in a democracy.
By taking notice of them we only give them oxygen.
Williams behaviour was ugly and the illustration was a refection of that. QED
And my admiration for JK Rowling has flopped to zero.
The cartoon has done what any satirical cartoonist is paid to do and from that perspective alone it was absolutely successful.
I do wonder how many of the defenders of ‘freedom of speech’ here would be chortling at a cartoon of a hook-nosed jew cuddling a rat and grasping a gold bar.
In public, I guarantee none of you would dare.
In the company of others like yourselves, I bet you’d all have a chuckle.
It’s funny how none of you guys (and it is mostly guys, white guys to boot) aren’t out there screaming for the free speech rights of trans Muslims or other folks, but only crawl out from under your rocks to caterwaul how white men aren’t allowed to be racist, sexist, bigots any more.
What a truly obtuse, arrogant, ugly comment. I can only assume you’re in your late 20’s, and a recent graduate of a corrupt education system.
You’re full of judgment Dave, and I suggest you sit down and have a conversation with someone of let’s say, an opposing world view, to find out what they believe and why, instead of spending your time in ideological echo chambers.
No, he didn’t draw a ‘racist’ cartoon — he drew an appropriate cartoon. Those who have criticised Mr Knight now find they have egg on their collective faces.