Today host Karl Stefanovic has jumped to the defence of the artist behind THAT controversial cartoon of Serena Williams claiming people ‘who don’t like it should’t look at it.’
Mark Knight’s cartoon for the Herald Sun made global headlines after it was labelled ‘racist’ online – including by celebrities such as J.K. Rowling and Nicki Minaj.
Stefanovic discussed the drawing on Wednesday morning’s show, and claimed attempting to censor work like Knight’s cartoon was a ‘slippery slope.’
‘I know that some people find things offensive like that, but it is satire, and it is an art, and if you don’t like it, you don’t have to watch it or read it,’ the breakfast host said.
Karl continued, ‘The moment we start trying to crack down on cartoonists is a slippery slope to a world that I just think is changed beyond recognition.’
Co-host Georgie Gardner interjected, wondering if Williams herself was concerned with the cartoon.
Stefanovic added he ‘hoped that she’s okay with it’ and that Williams would travel to Melbourne for the Australian Open in early 2019.
‘I think freedom of speech is so important…I hope that she can see the funny side of it and I hope she is here in January. That is the one thing I would say about it.’
Sylvia Jeffreys claimed she was ‘unable’ to form an opinion as she had never experienced racism.
‘I’m happy to sit back and listen to people who say they feel that they have experienced racism in their lives and they see an element of that in it,’ she said.
‘Personally, I am with you there. I see that that is what cartoonists do, they exaggerate things. That is the whole point of what they do with their art.
‘So I don’t see that and I think a lot of the anger has been exaggerated too in the debate.’
The Herald Sun has since backed Knight following the worldwide criticism.
The paper’s editor, Damon Johnston, said Knight’s cartoon had shown how ‘a champion tennis player had a mega tantrum on the world stage’.
‘It had nothing to do with gender or race,’ he said in the publication.
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