Newspaper stands by Serena cartoonist

ONE of Australia’s largest newspapers has backed its cartoonist amid a global controversy over an illustration of Serena Williams (inset), by publishing his work on its front page.

JK Rowling and Nicki Minaj were among a “tidal wave” of critics to denounce the image by Herald Sun cartoonist Mark Knight as “racist and sexist” after it appeared in its paper on Monday.

Williams was beaten by Naomi Osaka in the US Open final after having a heated row with umpire Carlos Ramos.

The controversial illustration showed the runner-up jumping on a racquet lying next to a baby’s dummy.

For its Wednesday edition, the Herald Sun filled its front page with cartoons, including the Williams image, along with likenesses of Donald Trump, Kim Jong Un and Australian prime minister Scott Morrison.

Under the headline “welcome to PC world”, the paper said: “If the self-appointed censors of Mark Knight get their way on his Serena Williams cartoon, our new

ROY HARRIS politically correct life will be very dull indeed.”

Rowling led the criticism, saying it reduced “one of the greatest sportswomen alive to racist and sexist tropes”.

The cartoon was also criticised by the civil rights campaigner Reverend Jesse Jackson, who said it was “despicable”.

Mr Knight said the barrage of online criticism led him to take down his social media profiles after abuse was directed at his family. He said the reaction showed the world “has just gone crazy”.