Last weekend, the SKWAWKBOX exclusively revealed an offensive cartoon sent by Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy to a parliamentary WhatsApp group used by over 100 people – an image that one of her constituents described as a ‘racist advert’.
This blog was accused of fake news by some and of making a mountain from a molehill by others.
Today, the Mirror’s Kevin Maguire featured the same story, which presumably makes it no longer fake and – since he described it as “toxic black stereotyping… so obvious, hurtful and deserving of condemnation” – presumably also means it’s no longer a teacup-storm.
The Mirror’s article does not have a quote from Ms Creasy, who has been sending apologies to various people and explaining, according to Maguire, that she didn’t realise it was offensive.
According to her Wikipedia entry, Ms Creasy has a degree in political and social science. Maguire’s response to her explanation is ‘Hmmm‘.
A further image exclusively revealed by the SKWAWKBOX – another screengrab of a group chat – reveals that while she is not trying to minimise her responsibility for her message, Ms Creasy feels there is more to the story and agreed she would be making ‘a few’ phone calls, but did not feel like trying to explain in the group context:
Maguire’s article, which describes at least one ‘furious’ MP, is titled ‘What we can learn from Labour MP’s apology for sharing ‘offensive’ cartoon‘, but doesn’t seem to conclude that we can learn anything from it.
It’s just possible that a few of those who accused this blog of fake news and exaggeration when we broke the exclusive might learn something, though.
Not likely, but possible. Theoretically, anyway.
The SKWAWKBOX needs your support. This blog is provided free of charge but depends on the generosity of its readers to be viable. If you can afford to, please click here to arrange a one-off or modest monthly donation via PayPal. Thanks for your solidarity so this blog can keep bringing you information the Establishment would prefer you not to know about.
If you wish to reblog this post for non-commercial use, you are welcome to do so – see here for more.