Cartoonist suspends Twitter account amid Serena Williams backlash

THE Aussie artist who created an international media storm after depicting Serena Williams’ US Open tantrum is off social media.

HERALD Sun cartoonist Mark Knight says he suspended his Twitter account overnight because of abuse towards his family over his cartoon of Serena Williams’ US Open tantrum.

Knight said he did it to protect his family and friends.

Australia’s finest cartoonist said while positive comments were outweighing negative, he chose to do it to stop family being abused.

Claims the account had been suspended by Twitter are wrong.

Knight has dismissed the global Twitter storm over his depiction of a tantrum-throwing Williams during the final of the US Open.

The Herald Sun’s veteran cartoonist says his portrayal was never about race or gender — rather the sporting superstar’s bad behaviour.

Knight’s take on Williams’ blow up showed the 23 Grand Slam winner spitting the dummy and stomping on her tennis racquet as the chair umpire told US Open champion Naomi Osaka in the background: “Can you just let her win.”

Mark Knight’s cartoon.

Knight said he was “amazed” at the reaction to his cartoon, depicting Serena spitting the dummy and stamping on her tennis racquet as the chair umpire told US Open champion Naomi Osaka in the background: “Can you just let her win.”

“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,” he said.

“It’s been picked up by social media in the US and my phone has just melted down.

“The world has just gone crazy.”

The American star was fined for coaching, racquet abuse and for verbal abuse when she accused umpire Carlos Ramos of being “a thief” during Saturday's stormy final. Picture: Timothy Clary/AFP

Serena Williams’s racket bends from the force of the throw. Picture: Timothy Clary/AFP

Criticism of Mark Knight's Serena Williams cartoon shows the world has gone too PC & misunderstands the role of news media cartoons and satire. Poor behaviour in any sport needs to be called out. #media #cartoons #markknight @Knightcartoons @theheraldsun https://t.co/KQFuvIJp0Q pic.twitter.com/sRo3AQ1cJW

— Michael Miller (@mm_newscorpaus) September 10, 2018

Australia’s finest cartoonist Mark Knight has the strongest support of his colleagues for his depiction of Serena Williams’ petulance. It’s about bad behaviour, certainly not race. The PC brigade are way off the mark...again. pic.twitter.com/CeHaoRG6gf

— Peter Blunden (@PeterBlunden_) September 11, 2018

@Knightcartoons cartoon is not racist or sexist .... it rightly mocks poor behavior by a tennis legend ... Mark has the full support of everyone @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/KWMT3QahJh

— damon johnston (@damonheraldsun) September 11, 2018

Knight said it was a cartoon about poor behaviour.

“Three days before I had drawn a cartoon about Nick Kyrgios being led off by the ears, like you used to do with your children,” he said.

“The cartoon about Serena is about her poor behaviour on the day, not about race.”

Knight said he had been unfairly criticised on social media channels.

“I tried to reply to these people but they just don’t listen,” he said.

“On any given day you are a hero and on any given day you are a pariah.

“And you just have to live with it.”

Serena Williams smashes her racket while playing Naomi Osaka. Picture: Kena Betancur/AFP

Broadcaster Neil Mitchell defended Knight this morning on his 3AW radio program.

“This shows an awful misunderstanding of Mark Knight and this country,” he said.

“I looked at that cartoon and it didn’t even cross my mind it was about race.

“It was a sports bully, a petulant child throwing a tantrum about losing.”

US Open Womens Single champion Naomi Osaka of Japan stands with Serena Williams during their women's singles finals match. Picture: Timothy Clary/AFP

Mitchell said ugly accusations were being labelled against Knight that were unfair.

“She behaved badly, she probably knows it,” he said.

“For heaven’s sake.

“He’s sending Serena up, not because she’s black, but because she was acting like a bully and a child.

“And he’s right.”

More Mark Knight cartoons

This cartoon in the Sunday Herald Sun depicting Nick Kyrgios received no criticism or accusations levelled about race or gender.

Knight cartoon on Harvey Weinstein.

Mark Knight cartoon on Facebook data mining.

Mark Knight cartoon on Trump and Putin.

>> MORE MARK KNIGHT CARTOONS

Originally published as Cartoonist suspends Twitter account amid Serena Williams backlash