Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Ann Telnaes announced Friday on her Substack page that she is resigning from The Washington Post over censorship. The dispute arose from the paper's refusal to publish a cartoon critical of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who also owns The Washington Post.
In her Substack post titled “Why I’m Quitting the Washington Post,” Telnaes wrote, "I have had editorial feedback and productive conversations—and some differences—about cartoons I have submitted for publication, but in all that time I’ve never had a cartoon killed because of who or what I chose to aim my pen at. Until now."
Telnaes revealed a rough draft version of the cartoon which portrays Bezos alongside other business executives kneeling and offering bags of cash to President-elect Donald Trump, who is shown on a pedestal. A bowing Mickey Mouse is also included, representing Disney. Telnaes explained that the cartoon criticized billionaires attempting to “curry favor” with the incoming administration.