The British Morning Star newspaper apologises and withdraws a cartoon by Stella Perrettabout transgender people.
The left-wing newspaper removed the cartoon from its online edition and apologised for its publication, also in print.
Some readers complained online that the joke dehumanised trans people, depicting them as predators.
The Morning Star’s various criticisms of the cartoon called it, among other things, transphobic, abhorrent, shameful, dehumanisingand fascist.
The scene shows small amphibians, talking to a crocodile that is slithering towards them:
“But, you can’t come in here! This is our safe space!”
The crocodile replies by licking his lips:
“Don’t worry your pretty little heads, I’m making the transition to newt!”
In the apology, published yesterday by the Morning Star the publication of the cartoon was due to an error in the editorial screening process.
An apology for the cartoon published last Tuesday
“The Morning Star apologises unreservedly for the publication last Tuesday of a cartoon which was offensive to trans people.
The cartoon had not been authorised for publication and its appearance in the print edition represents a failure to follow our own procedures for approving submissions. It was removed from online editions of the paper the same day, as soon as it was seen by the editor.
A notice was sent round staff on Tuesday reminding them of the process by which cartoon submissions must be approved before publication and we are determined that such a lapse in standards will not recur.
Again, we apologise for the offence caused by this cartoon, especially to our trans contributors and readers whom we have let down.“.
Related, more than 150 cases in different countries.
Humour in trouble, a collection of cases (III)
Cases of cartoonists who have had problems of some importance because of their cartoons or satirical illustrations. There are also some stories of other people who, without being cartoonists, have got into trouble for sharing them.
