New York Times backlash over ‘shameful’ Jack Charles obituary

The New York Times has been accused of racism over an obituary of a beloved Aboriginal actor described by some Australians as ‘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 took him in and out of prison his entire life.”

Outraged social media users claimed the post, which has since been removed, was offensive and an example of “racial profiling.”

Outraged social media users claimed the post was offensive and ‘racial profiling’

‘No, we’re not doing this. He was a protagonist and activist. This isn’t a complex person, it’s outright racial profiling,” one user wrote.

‘Wow. This is… one of the worst ways I’ve seen his story told. Shame on you,” said another.

“How do you say ‘we are a tone-deaf racist publication’ without saying ‘we are a tone-deaf racist publication’,” commented a third.

The original post was later deleted and replaced with a tweet remembering Charles as “one of Australia’s leading Indigenous actors and activists”.

The original post has since been deleted and replaced with a tweet remembering Charles as ‘one of Australia’s leading Indigenous actors and activists’

The native actor died of a stroke on September 13 at the age of 79.

The Boon Wurrung’s senior eldest, Dja Dja Wurrung, Woiwurrung and Yorta Yorta died in Melbourne’s Royal Hospital, surrounded by close friends and family.

In a statement, his family said “he will live on in our hearts and memories through his numerous screen and stage roles.”

The Aboriginal icon was named NAIDOC Male Elder of the Year in 2022.

Senator Lidia Thorpe posted on social media that the Aboriginal community had “lost our king.”

The native actor died of a stroke on September 13 at the age of 79. Indigenous icon was named NAIDOC Male Elder of the Year in 2022

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Twitter: “Jack Charles has had a hard life and leaves a joyful legacy. He endured cruelty, he knew pain.

“He survived every turn of the vicious circle, holding on to his humanity. Jack Charles has exalted our nation with his heart, his genius, his creativity and passion.”

Charles was taken from his mother as a baby and grew up in the Salvation Army Boys’ Home in Box Hill in Melbourne – where he was the only Aboriginal child.

He was raised Christian and remained a believer until his death.

The Aboriginal actor spent decades in and out of prison battling a serious addiction.

He said his struggles with addiction and the law were in response to childhood trauma, such as being taken from his mother as a baby and abused both physically and sexually while growing up in an orphanage.

Still, Charles managed to get clean in 2008, a new leaf in his career popping up at the same time a documentary about him, Bastardy, was being released.

Anthony Albanese said on Twitter: “Jack Charles has had a hard life and leaves behind a joyful legacy. He endured cruelty, he knew pain’

The survivor of the Stolen Generations has starred on several ABC and SBS television shows, including Cleverman, Wolf Creek, and Who Do You Think You Are? – the last of which he discovered the identity of his father.

Charles revealed on his Jack Charles vs The Crown show in London that he struggled with drug addiction as a child and often turned to petty crime as a result.

He then used his story to influence government law and create platforms for other Aborigines to tell about their past.

Charles also worked with the late Uncle Archie Roach to support current and former Native inmates.