Felcher Adam Schiff
2019-02-27 12:44:11 UTC
The controversial cartoon depicting tennis star Serena Williams
reacting angrily to her U.S. Open final loss to Naomi Osaka was
not racist and did not breach media standards, a press watchdog
said.
Published last September by the Herald Sun newspaper, Mark
Knights cartoon showed Williams, 37, with her mouth wide open,
hands in fists and jumping above a broken tennis racket and a
baby pacifier. In the background, an umpire says to the opposing
player at the net, Can you just let her win?
View image on Twitter
View image on Twitter
damon johnston
?
@damonheraldsun
@Knightcartoons cartoon is not racist or sexist .... it rightly
mocks poor behavior by a tennis legend ... Mark has the full
support of everyone @theheraldsun
4,840
4:39 PM - Sep 10, 2018
2,684 people are talking about this
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It quickly sparked controversy with critics arguing that the
caricature used racist and sexist stereotypes of African
Americans, with the National Association of Black Journalists in
the U.S. denouncing it as repugnant on many levels.
The Melbourne newspaper and Knight consistently defended the
cartoon, saying it used satire, caricature, exaggeration and
humor to depict an event of public interest, denying it was
racist or sexist.
SERENA WILLIAMS GOES TOPLESS, SINGS 'I TOUCH MYSELF' IN BREAST
CANCER AWARENESS VIDEO
The Australian Press Council agreed, ruling Monday, that it
acknowledged that some readers found the cartoon offensive but
said there was sufficient public interesting in commenting on
the behavior of a player with a global profile.
Naomi Osaka beat Serena Williams at the 2018 U.S. Open finals, 6-
2,6-4 following some controversy with the umpire.
Naomi Osaka beat Serena Williams at the 2018 U.S. Open finals, 6-
2,6-4 following some controversy with the umpire. (Getty)
The council considered that the cartoon uses exaggeration and
absurdity to make its point but accepts the publisher's claim
that it does not depict Ms. Williams as an ape, rather showing
her as spitting the dummy, a non-racist caricature familiar to
most Australian readers.
'Spitting the dummy' is an Australian term for having a tantrum.
Knight told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation he was very
happy with the councils ruling about the cartoon in the Herald
Sun, which is owned by News Corp Australia.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The Australian Press Council is the chief watchdog for
complaints about Australian media, but it does not have the
power to issue or enforce penalties.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/media-watchdog-says-williams-
cartoon-didnt-breach-standards
reacting angrily to her U.S. Open final loss to Naomi Osaka was
not racist and did not breach media standards, a press watchdog
said.
Published last September by the Herald Sun newspaper, Mark
Knights cartoon showed Williams, 37, with her mouth wide open,
hands in fists and jumping above a broken tennis racket and a
baby pacifier. In the background, an umpire says to the opposing
player at the net, Can you just let her win?
View image on Twitter
View image on Twitter
damon johnston
?
@damonheraldsun
@Knightcartoons cartoon is not racist or sexist .... it rightly
mocks poor behavior by a tennis legend ... Mark has the full
support of everyone @theheraldsun
4,840
4:39 PM - Sep 10, 2018
2,684 people are talking about this
Twitter Ads info and privacy
It quickly sparked controversy with critics arguing that the
caricature used racist and sexist stereotypes of African
Americans, with the National Association of Black Journalists in
the U.S. denouncing it as repugnant on many levels.
The Melbourne newspaper and Knight consistently defended the
cartoon, saying it used satire, caricature, exaggeration and
humor to depict an event of public interest, denying it was
racist or sexist.
SERENA WILLIAMS GOES TOPLESS, SINGS 'I TOUCH MYSELF' IN BREAST
CANCER AWARENESS VIDEO
The Australian Press Council agreed, ruling Monday, that it
acknowledged that some readers found the cartoon offensive but
said there was sufficient public interesting in commenting on
the behavior of a player with a global profile.
Naomi Osaka beat Serena Williams at the 2018 U.S. Open finals, 6-
2,6-4 following some controversy with the umpire.
Naomi Osaka beat Serena Williams at the 2018 U.S. Open finals, 6-
2,6-4 following some controversy with the umpire. (Getty)
The council considered that the cartoon uses exaggeration and
absurdity to make its point but accepts the publisher's claim
that it does not depict Ms. Williams as an ape, rather showing
her as spitting the dummy, a non-racist caricature familiar to
most Australian readers.
'Spitting the dummy' is an Australian term for having a tantrum.
Knight told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation he was very
happy with the councils ruling about the cartoon in the Herald
Sun, which is owned by News Corp Australia.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The Australian Press Council is the chief watchdog for
complaints about Australian media, but it does not have the
power to issue or enforce penalties.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/media-watchdog-says-williams-
cartoon-didnt-breach-standards