Australian newspaper Herald Sun has leapt to the defence of cartoonist Mark Knight, after his depiction of Serena Williams' US Open final meltdown was publically condemned as racist.
During Sunday's (NZ time) final, which she lost 6-2 6-4 to Japan's Naomi Osaka, Williams was handed a coaching violation and a point penalty for breaking her racquet, before a heated argument with umpire Carlos Ramos ended with her losing a game.
Knight's parody of those events has been widely criticised on social media.
Noted British author JK Rowling called it "racist and sexist", and civil rights activist Reverand Jesse Jackson also took aim.
"This despicable cartoon tried and failed to diminish the greatness & grace of @serenawilliams," Jackson tweeted. "Racism in any form is unacceptable."
Many have also taken exception with Knight's portrayal of Williams' Japanese-Haitian opponent, Naomi Osaka, as a busty, blonde white woman.
It's also drawn the ire of the America's National Association of Black Journalists, who deemed it "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," it said.
On Wednesday, the Melbourne publication struck back at criticism and printed a cover with the headline "Welcome to PC World".
It also published a defence of its cartoonist on the homepage of its website, in which Knight deemed the response "unfair".
"I drew this cartoon Sunday night, after seeing the US Open final, and seeing the world’s best tennis player have a tantrum and thought that was interesting," Knight said in the Herald Sun.
"It’s been picked up by social media in the US and my phone has just melted down… the world has just gone crazy."
He has since deleted his Twitter account.
Damon Johnston, the Herald Sun editor, tweeted support of Knight and the cartoon.
He said Knight's cartoon "is not racist or sexist" and "rightly mocks poor behaviour by a tennis legend".
"Mark has the full support of everyone at the Herald Sun," Johnston added.
Williams has yet to make comment on the cartoon.
Newshub.
