Serena’s Husband Slams Controversial Cartoon as ‘Racist’

The multi-millionaire husband of Serena Williams has broken his silence in the wake of his partner’s meltdown at the US Open and the cartoon controversy that followed.

Alexis Ohanian Sr, 35, claimed the cartoon, drawn by Herald Sun cartoonist Mark Knight, was both ‘racist’ and ‘misogynistic’ in a Twitter post on Thursday.

‘I am truly perplexed to learn this editor of the Australian newspaper behind the blatantly racist and misogynistic cartoon of my wife is a “Male Champion of Change”,’ he wrote.

‘Is this supposed to be satire, too?’

A number of Twitter users showed their support on the social media site.

‘Lord help Serena to win 4 more GS (sic) to silent (sic(all the haters in Jesus name we her fans have been here before and still she rise do it again,’ one fan wrote.

He tweeted out his response to the cartoon on his account and garnered both support and some backlash for his comments

‘You’re the best husband and dad anyone could ask for! She’ll come back and prove all of them wrong!!,’ another added.

However some Twitter users weren’t so quick to forget the reason for the cartoon in the first place.

‘Sorry Serena acted terrible. The umpires take a lot of crap from male and female multi millionaire players. Serena ruined Naomi’s day,’ one user wrote.

‘Stop crying! Your wife acted like a two-year-old throwing her toys out of her crib while she was getting her b*** beat down by a 20-year-old … her behavior was disgusting to watch. I asked my daughter learn from it,’ another added.

‘But you are not perplexed with her behavior last Saturday?’ another user wrote.

Herald Sun editor Damon Johnston defended the cartoon and Mr Knight in the aftermath of the cartoon being published.

‘A champion tennis player had a mega tantrum on the world stage, and Mark’s cartoon depicted that. It had nothing to do with gender or race,’ he said.

The cartoon took away from the original scandal that erupted around Williams’ behaviour during the most recent US Open women’s final.

World number 25 Barbora Strycova said Williams outburst was ‘bulls***’.

‘In comparison, I never saw (Rafael) Nadal shouting like that with an umpire,’ she said.

‘Ramos is tough, one of the best umpires in the world, he did what he had to do in that match, because she overstepped the limit. Did she have to behave differently only because she was Serena Williams? I find it interesting that she did it only when she was losing.’

The International Tennis Federation also threw its support behind Ramos.

‘Carlos Ramos is one of the most experienced and respected umpires in tennis,’ the statement read.

‘Mr. Ramos’ decisions were in accordance with the relevant rules and were reaffirmed by the U.S. Open’s decision to fine Serena Williams for the three offences.’

‘It is important to remember that Mr. Ramos undertook his duties as an official according to the relevant rule book and acted at all times with professionalism and integrity.’

Martina Navratilova, an 18-time Grand Slam singles champion, also took a swipe at Williams’ behaviour.

‘I don’t believe it’s a good idea to apply a standard of, ‘If men can get away with it, women should be able to, too’,’ she said.

‘Rather, I think the question we have to ask ourselves is this: What is the right way to behave to honour our sport and to respect our opponents?’

She said Williams’ outburst ‘poisoned the atmosphere’ for her opponent Naomi Osaka.