Mark Knight, the Australian cartoonist behind Serena Williams controversial cartoon image from US Open has been forced to shut down his account.
Mark Knight says he suspended his Twitter account overnight because of abuse towards his family over his cartoon of Serena Williams’ US Open tantrum.
After critics around the world condemned Mark Knight’s depiction of the tennis player as racist and sexist. Days after the controversial U.S. Open women’s final in which a feud broke out between Serena Williams and chair umpire Carlos Ramos, a cartoonist has faced criticism for his interpretation of Serena Williams at the competition.
Mark Knight’s drawing, which was published in Australian newspaper the Herald Sun on Monday, portrayed the tennis superstar throwing a tantrum next to a smashed racket and a baby’s dummy during the final against the tournament winner, Naomi Osaka.
Osaka is pictured talking to the umpire, who asks, “can’t you just let her win?” and as many commenters have pointed out, the Japanese and Haitian tennis star is depicted as white with blonde hair.
The image, which was shared by Knight on Sunday, has been slammed by many on social media, including JK Rowling and American civil rights activist the Rev Jesse Jackson, plus several female sports journalists and broadcasters.
Since the publication of the sketch, The National Association of Black Journalists has also issued a statement describing the image as “repugnant” on many levels.
“The racist cartoon of Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka by Mark Knight of the Herald Sun is repugnant on many levels,” the association said.
“The Sept. 10 cartoon not only exudes racist, sexist caricatures of both women, but Williams’ depiction is unnecessarily sambo-like. The art of editorial cartooning is a visual dialogue on the issues of the day, yet this cartoon grossly inaccurately depicts two women of colour at the US Open, one of the grandest stages of professional sports.”
Knight we guessed hasn’t had it this ‘hot’ before despite numerous publications about celebrities and Politicians.
He said he did it to protect his family and friends.
The Herald Sun’s veteran cartoonist said he shut down his account to protect his family and friends. He also claimed his portrayal was never about race or gender, rather the sporting superstar’s bad behaviour.
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