The New York Times has been criticized for a “shameful” obituary of legendary Aboriginal actor Jack Charles, which highlights his life of drugs and crime
- The New York Times has been criticized for its “shameful” obituary of Jack Charles
- In a tribute post, he highlighted his “heroin addiction” and his “liking for burglaries.”
- Social media users said the post was “shameful” and “racial profiling”.
- The Twitter post has since been removed and replaced with a new tribute post
The New York Times has been accused of racism over an obituary of a beloved Aboriginal actor that some Australians have called “shameful”.
The publication’s Twitter post about Jack Charles’ death said he was “one of Australia’s leading Indigenous actors, but his heroin addiction and penchant for burglary has landed him in and out of prison throughout his life”.
Angry social media users claimed the now-removed post was offensive and an example of “racial profiling”.
The New York Times has been criticized for an obituary of beloved Aboriginal star Jack Charles (pictured) that Australians called “shameful”.
Angry social media users claimed the post was offensive and “racial profiling”.
“No, we don’t do that. He was a leading man and activist. This doesn’t represent a complex person, it’s direct racial profiling,” wrote one user.
‘Wow. That’s… one of the worst ways I’ve seen his story. Shame on you,” said another.
“How to say ‘We are a racist publication with no sound’ without saying ‘We are a racist publication with no sound,'” commented a third.
The original post was later deleted and replaced with a tweet recalling Charles as “one of Australia’s leading Indigenous actors and activists”.
The original post has since been removed and replaced with a tweet commemorating Charles as “one of Australia’s leading Indigenous actors and activists”.
The Indigenous actor died of a stroke on September 13 at the age of 79.
The eldest of the Boon Wurrung, Dja Dja Wurrung, Woiwurrung and Yorta Yorta died at the Royal Hospital of Melbourne surrounded by close friends and family.
In a statement, his family said: “He will live on in our hearts and memories through his numerous film and stage roles.”
The Aboriginal icon was named Male Elder of the Year by NAIDOC in 2022.
Senator Lidia Thorpe has posted on social media that the Aboriginal community has “lost our king”.
The Indigenous actor died of a stroke on September 13 at the age of 79. The Indigenous icon was named Male Elder of the Year by NAIDOC in 2022
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Twitter: “Jack Charles has lived a hard life and leaves a happy legacy. He endured cruelty, he knew pain.
“He has survived every twist of the cycle and held on to his humanity. Jack Charles uplifted our nation with his heart, genius, creativity and passion.”
Charles was taken away from his mother as an infant and grew up in the Salvation Army boys’ home on Melbourne’s Box Hill – where he was the only Aboriginal child.
He was raised a Christian and remained religious until his death.
The Aboriginal actor has spent decades in and out of prison battling a serious addiction.
He said his struggles with addiction and the law were a reaction to childhood trauma, such as being taken from his mother as a child and experiencing both physical and sexual abuse during his childhood in an orphanage.
Despite this, Charles managed to get clean in 2008 and turned a new leaf in his career while simultaneously releasing a documentary about him, Bastardy.
Anthony Albanese said on Twitter: “Jack Charles has lived a tough life and leaves a happy legacy. He endured cruelty, he knew pain’
The Stolen Generations survivor has starred in several ABC and SBS television programs including Cleverman, Wolf Creek and Who Do You Think You Are? – The latter, from which he discovered his father’s identity.
Charles revealed on his show Jack Charles vs. The Crown in London that he struggled with drug addiction as a child and as a result often turned to petty crime.
He then used his story to influence government legislation and create platforms for other Aboriginal people to learn about their past.
Charles also worked with the late Uncle Archie Roach to support current and former Indigenous inmates.
