USYD student magazine Honi Soit draws criticism over Queen coverage

A university magazine has been labelled “a piece of trash” for going hard at the monarchy in the wake of the Queen’s death.

Sydney uni student magazine Honi Soit has received criticism for their Queen’s death coverage. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

The University of Sydney’s student newspaper has received mixed reviews over its provocative front page coverage of the Queen’s death.

The front page of Honi Soit bore the headline “Queen dead, Charles next”, with a photoshopped image of the Queen lying in a morgue with her son King Charles surveying the body.

Inside, the editors describe the late monarch’s death as “gruesome, lonely and painful” and a faux interview in her final moments in which that talks about her “gene pool” and euthanising her corgis.

Honi Soit’s front page featured a photoshopped image of the Queen in a morgue. Picture: Instagram

The University of Sydney Conservative Club president Cooper Gannon told The Australian that the front page was in “extreme distaste”.

“I think it’s nothing short of absolutely disgraceful,” he said.

“It’s a poor reflection of a paper that is meant to represent students.”

Some took to social media to share their distaste over the coverage.

“Disgusting piece of trash. Shame on you,” one commenter wrote.

Others shared their praise for the magazine making a statement.

“So brave so stunning,” one Twitter user said.

NRLW player Caitlin Moran was suspended for an inappropriate post. Picture: NRL Photos

The student magazine is not the first public voice to receive backlash for commenting on the Queen’s death with a lens of criticism.

NRLW player Caitlin Moran has been banned by the NRL following an investigation by the integrity unit after an offensive social media post referenced the Queen’s death.

Australian comedy royalty The Chaser also stirred up controversy for posts poking fun at the Queen’s death that were called out for being “a bit soon”.

Honi Soit’s editors responded pre-emptively to criticism on their website, saying they know “many people won’t like the cover of this week’s paper or the tone with which we have reflected on the Queen’s death”.

Honi Soit editors say they haven’t received any backlash on campus. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

“We ask these people instead to reflect on the irreparable damage the Queen’s legacy, as a beacon of violence and colonialism, will leave. In Australia, in Palestine, in Ireland, in South Asia, in every single one of the colonies

“Why is it that we hold this woman, whose wealth and whiteness existed on an almost metaphysical scale, in such high regard and not that of those who suffered under her reign?”

The editors also advised that they hadn’t yet received any backlash on campus, and their audience had “responded positively so far”.

The University of Sydney has reaffirmed that all editorial decisions are made by the editorial team independent of the university.

“This cover appears to be a deliberate attempt to shock and create attention, as student news­papers have always done, and we understand many will consider it in terrible taste,” a spokesman said.

“We also recognise one of our fundamental roles as a university is to champion free speech and be a place where ideas can be freely discussed, including those some may view as controversial or offensive.”