Serena Williamsfans across the internet are coming to the athlete’s defense in response to a recently published cartoon from Australia’sHerald Sunnewspaper which many are calling racist.
On Monday,Herald Sunartist Mark Knight tweeted a drawing showing an exaggeratedcaricature of Williamsstomping on her tennis racket with a pacifier near her feet — which many felt was comparable to the stereotypes seen inanti-black political cartoonsfrom the Jim Crow-era of America.
The cartoon was an insulting interpretation of Williams’visible frustration during her highly-anticipatedU.S. Open match against Osaka, which she lost after getting into a verbal altercation with umpire Carlos Ramos, who the 23-time Grand Slam champion called “a thief.”
In the background ofKnight’s cartoon, an umpire is seen asking Williams’ opponent to let the star win. It isn’t clear whether the drawing of the white and blonde player is meant to represent Osaka, who is the daughter of a Haitian father and a Japanese mother.
After the match on Saturday, Williams, 36, said she believes male players are often given much more leniency in what they can say to umpires, which sparked a conversation about sexism in the sport.
Many on social media were quick to raise serious and critical questions about Knight’s cartoon.
“Well done on reducing one of the greatest sportswomen alive to racist and sexist tropes,”Harry Potterauthor J.K. Rowlingtweeted, “and turning a second great sportswoman into a faceless prop.”
ESPN commentatorJemele Hillcalled the drawing, “about as subtle as Fran Drescher’s voice.”
“Here’s a cartoon I drew a few days before when Australian male tennis player Kyrgios at the US Open was behaving badly,” Knight tweeted, along with the cartoon. “Don’t bring gender into it when it’s all about behaviour. I’ll accept your apology in writing.”
In fact, the Kyrgios cartoon ignited further commentary from Knight’s Twitter critics.
Juergen Hasenkopf/BPI/REX/Shutterstock
“Women are treated differently in most arenas of life,” wrote King in theWashingtonPoston Sunday. “This is especially true for women of color. And what played out on the court yesterday happens far too often. It happens in sports, in the office and in public service. Ultimately, a woman was penalized for standing up for herself. A woman faced down sexism, and the match went on.”
As of late Monday morning, Knight had not removed the cartoon from his Twitter account or offered an apology.
A rep for Williams did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment. TheHerald Sunalso did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
source: people.com
