Serena Williams arrives at the Oscars on Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Richard Shotwell / Invision / AP)

Media Watchdog Rules Controversial Serena Williams Cartoon Is 'Non-Racist'

By The Wildcard February 24, 2019 at 11:02pm

A media watchdog has ruled that a cartoon of tennis star Serena Williams which attracted global condemnation after being published by Melbourne’s Herald Sun newspaper was not in breach of the Australian Press Council’s standards of practice.

The depiction of Williams by cartoonist Mark Knight last September showed her reacting angrily to her loss to Naomi Osaka in the final of the U.S. Open.

It was not a flattering portrait.

Serena Williams cartoon not racist, Australian press watchdog rules https://t.co/pey32RQzvm pic.twitter.com/rLHc8EUtbe

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) February 25, 2019

Williams is depicted with her mouth open wide, hands in fists and jumping above a broken tennis racket and a baby’s pacifier.

In the background an umpire says to a player on the opposite side of the net, “Can you just let her win?”

Critics condemned the cartoon as racist and sexist.

In a ruling published Monday, the Australian Press Council said 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 globally high profile.

Do you agree with the "non-racist" ruling?

“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 a having a temper tantrum.

The Herald Sun said the cartoon used “satire, caricature, exaggeration, and humor” to depict an event of public interest.

The response to the ruling was swift.

Some felt that the Australian Press Council had made the correct ruling.

Good. Nothing wrong with it.

— JR (@JR_014) February 25, 2019

It was no harsher than any other caricature. I’d hate to see cartooning repressed, uncomfortable though it is.

— Gina V Dow (@ArtsandCulture) February 25, 2019

Yip, it’s a drawing. Nothing more.

— David (@David89081073) February 25, 2019

Others condemned the ruling, feeling that the cartoon was unquestionably racist.

It was racist.

— Tobi Ojo (@Tobiojo28) February 25, 2019

While Serena sparkles at #Oscars, a less brilliant decision that the widely criticized depiction of her “did not breach media standards,” the Australian Press Council has ruled.

If that cartoon didn’t breach the standards, I’m baffled as to what would.https://t.co/BjsaBRqDn4

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) February 25, 2019

Williams was last seen promoting a new ad and speaking at the Oscars on Sunday.

The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.

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