A clipping of a cartoon published by a now Conservative parliamentary candidate has sparked fury online. (Orbit Magazine)
A Conservative Party candidate has been caught in a crossfire of criticism after it was revealed that he was responsible for the publication of a homophobic Harry Potter cartoon.
The 2007 cartoon suggested character Professor Dumbledore was a paedephbile because he was gay.
Mario Creatura, who is vying for the marginal seat in the Croydon Central consistency, was helming the student publication at the time when the image was printed.
He worked as publications editor of the student union at Royal Holloway University when the union magazine, The Orbital, published the image.
However The Orbital exclusively sent PinkNews cuttings of the original article as well as another piece that detailed anti-gay musings from former writers.
However, the prospective lawmaker took to Twitter to denounce the article. Creatura stated he had “nothing to do with the totally inappropriate design or disgraceful opinions”.
‘Harry Poofter and gay Prof Dumbledore’ cartoon outrages LGBT+ community.
The cartoon at the centre of the controversy was the header image for an opinion piece reacting to Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling’s revelation that Dumbledore was gay.
Headlined ‘Harry Poofter and gay Prof Dumbledore’, a small inset caption added: “Professor Paedo.
“Do Hermione, Harry and Ron have more to fear than just Voldemort?”
While the article itself seen by PinkNews wondered: “Was Dumbledore’s relationship with Harry as innocent as it seemed?
“Does [Dumbledore] apparate to G.A.Y on a Friday night?”
The writer agued that the bulk of Potter fans have welcomed Rowling’s retcon and noted that, while some fans renounced their liking of him altogether as a result of him being gay, it should ultimately not matter at all.
Although, another article printed in the magazine – a review of a play – noted that there were many “comic moments in this terribly camp production.
“The pink-shirted soldiers looked like they were more into fudge than toffee.”
According to the Independent, the cartoon’s publication ignited fury from the LGBT+ student society which tabled a motion to censure Creatura and another officer.
The backlash bubbled, forcing the magazine’s deputy editor who allegedly wrote the caption to resign.
‘Mario Creatura is clearly not fit to be an MP’.
Naz Shah, the party’s Shadow Women and Equalities minister, denounced the publication of the piece in its entirety.
“Mario Creatura publishing this appalling, extremely homophobic content provides further evidence of the deep prejudice that runs through the Conservative Party,” she explained.
“This is no surprise when its own leader Boris Johnson has compared gay marriage to marrying a dog, called gay men ‘tank topped bum boys’, opposed ‘gays in the military’ and opposed Labour’s plans to introduce LGBT+ education in schools.
“Mario Creatura is clearly not fit to be an MP.”
‘I had nothing to do with the totally inappropriate design or disgraceful opinions’, stresses Tory candidate after Harry Potter saga reignites.
In an exchange with a user on the social media website, Creatura clarified that his involvement in the published cartoon was limited amid accusations of homophobia online.
To be clear – I had nothing to do with the totally inappropriate design or the disgraceful captions. The person who was responsible was sacked at the time, and the Editor-in-Chief made a full and unreserved apology.
— Mario Creatura (@MarioCreatura) December 11, 2019
Moreover, when a user pressed him for an apology, he added: “I apologised at the time and happy to do so again.
“The caption and the design was and is disgusting. I was investigated and cleared of wrongdoing.”
And when the user questions whether Creatura saw the final proof for the piece, he stated that he never saw the version which was later circulated:
Correct. I commissioned the content. Which incidentally in this case was an article by an LGBT student defending the sexuality of the character.
Then it was designed by another (who was sacked) and sent to the Editor-in-Chief (who publicly apologised) to sign off and print.
— Mario Creatura (@MarioCreatura) December 11, 2019