The Guardian has been accused of misogyny after publishing a cartoon seeming to depict UK Prime Minister Theresa May moments after being sodomized by Donald Trump.
The image, by cartoonist Steve Bell, showed the two world leaders in the compromising position on the same day Mrs May and President Trump hold a summit in Washington, D.C.
The image – published in the newspaper and on the Guardian website – shows the two in bed together, apparently a metaphor for the US-UK “special relationship”.
They are shown only as a pair of legs – Trump’s a bare, vibrant orange and Mrs May wearing only a pair of her trademark leopard-print kitten heels.
The arrangement of their bodies suggests Trump has just been on top of a downward-facing Mrs May.
Bell’s image was a play on an 18th-Century cartoon by James Gillray mocking the British royal family. But Bell reversed the position of the female legs to imply a different type of sex, and a different balance of power:
Critics were quick to point out that the Guardian – a champion of women’s rights which frequently decries the objectification of women – were happy in this case to demean Mrs May as a humiliated sexual submissive.
Martin Daubney – a frequent Heat Street contributor – pointed out the mismatch on Twitter, writing: “The liberal left loathe misogyny. But it’s hilarious for Steve Bell to joke our Prime Minister is being sodomized by Donald Trump!”
Writing on twitter, barrister Rebecca Herbert said: “I’m not retweeting it. Steve Bell’s @guardian cartoon is appalling and, as a woman (rarely something I say), I find it offensive.”
Daily Telegraph contributor Tim Stanley added: “Vile cartoon today by Steve Bell. His work recalls ugly cartoons of sans culottes wiping their bottoms on things. Inelegant, ineloquent.”
Heat Street contacted the Guardian for comment, who defended the “satirical” work.
A spokesman said: “Steve Bell is recognised by his peers – and Guardian readers – as a controversial and talented cartoonist. His work is satirical and is intended to be viewed in this context.”
