B&TB&TB&T
  • Advertising
  • Campaigns
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Technology
  • Regulars
    • Agency Scorecards
    • Best of the Best
    • Campaigns of the Month
    • CMO Power List
    • CMOs to Watch
    • Culture Bites
    • Fast 10
    • New Business Winners
    • Spotlight on Sponsors
  • Jobs
  • Awards
    • 30 Under 30
    • B&T Awards
    • Cairns Crocodiles
    • Women In Media
    • Women Leading Tech
Search
Trending topics:
  • Cairns Crocodiles
  • Nine
  • Seven
  • Cannes Lions
  • WPP
  • NRL
  • State of Origin
  • B&T Women in Media
  • Thinkerbell
  • imaa
  • Agency Scorecards
  • Pinterest
  • AFL
  • Anthony Albanese
  • AI
  • Spotlight on Sponsors
  • The Growth Distillery
  • TV Ratings
  • Radio Ratings
  • Sports Marketing

  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Advertise
© 2025 B&T. The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd.
Reading: News’ The Australian In More Strife Over Latest “Racist, Xenophobic” Cartoon
Share
B&TB&T
Subscribe
Search
  • Advertising
  • Campaigns
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Technology
  • Regulars
    • Agency Scorecards
    • Best of the Best
    • Campaigns of the Month
    • CMO Power List
    • CMOs to Watch
    • Culture Bites
    • Fast 10
    • New Business Winners
    • Spotlight on Sponsors
  • Jobs
  • Awards
    • 30 Under 30
    • B&T Awards
    • Cairns Crocodiles
    • Women In Media
    • Women Leading Tech
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Advertise
© 2025 B&T. The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd.
B&T > Media > News’ The Australian In More Strife Over Latest “Racist, Xenophobic” Cartoon
Media

News’ The Australian In More Strife Over Latest “Racist, Xenophobic” Cartoon

Staff Writers
Published on: 3rd June 2020 at 12:15 PM
Staff Writers
Share
2 Min Read
SHARE

A cartoon in Monday’s The Australian has been labelled as “racist” and “xenophobic” after it depicted a black protestor leaning his knee into the Statue Of Liberty’s neck, which responds “I can’t breathe”.

The John Spooner illustration is a play on the police officer who held down George Floyd in a similar manner leading to his death – later deemed a homicide – and has led to widespread race riots in the US.

It also has the masked protestor saying: “I am fighting for the right to do what I hate.”

B&T has reached out to the News-owned The Australian for comment and clarification of the cartoon but had not received a reply by publication.

Comic Pauline Pantsdown was the first to call out the cartoon, tweeting: “I know it’s compulsory for recent cartoonists from @australian to take a swandive off the Bill Leak memorial racist balcony, but it seems they’ve started injecting bleach into their brains now.”

Pantsdown’s comments follow a number of complaints about the racial overtone of many of Leak’s – who died suddenly in 2017 – cartoons that appeared in The Oz.

Others tweeting that they had complained about the cartoon to the Australian Press Council.

Check out some of the social media backlash below:

 

 

 

 

Join more than 30,000 advertising industry experts
Get all the latest advertising and media news direct to your inbox from B&T.

No related posts.

TAGGED: News Corp, The Australian
Share
Staff Writers
By Staff Writers
Follow:
Staff Writers represent B&T's team of award-winning reporters. Here, you'll find articles crafted with industry experience spanning over 50 years. Our team of specialists brings together a wealth of knowledge and a commitment to delivering insightful, topical, and breaking news. With a deep understanding of advertising and media, our Staff Writers are dedicated to providing industry-leading analysis and reporting, both shaping the conversation and setting the benchmark for excellence.

Latest News

Mindshare & Kaimera Drive Off With MG Media Account After Incumbents Decline To Re-Pitch
18/07/2025
Jake Stringer flying up above his old club.
TV Ratings (17/07/2025): Jake Stringer Puts On A Show Against His Old Side
18/07/2025
Fever Tree Global Creative Account Goes To Pitch
18/07/2025
Where Did The Bookies Go? Rugby League 26 Launches Without Gambling Sponsors
18/07/2025
//

B&T is Australia’s leading news publication magazine for the advertising, marketing, media and PR industries.

 

B&T is owned by parent company The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd.

About B&T

  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Advertise

Top Categories

  • Advertising
  • Campaigns
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Opinion
  • Technology
  • TV Ratings

Sign Up for Our Newsletter



B&TB&T
Follow US
© 2025 B&T. The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Register Lost your password?