We all know that the internet forgives no one, and this time it was the turn of one of the most respected artists in the manga industry. Yusuke Murata, the genius behind the spectacular art of One Punch Man, has just gotten into a huge controversy. Instead of focusing on his usual work at the drawing board, the illustrator decided it was a good idea to interact with highly sensitive geopolitical and medical topics on his public account, making a comment that left his fans completely disappointed.

A joke nobody asked for

All the chaos began on May 23, when Murata responded to a controversial video by British activist Tommy Robinson. The clip discussed an alarming health crisis in the UK’s Pakistani community, revealing harsh statistics: although this group represents just 3% of the UK population, they account for a staggering 33% of birth defects due to the extremely high rate of cousin marriages. The video showed several people affected by these severe genetic conditions and malformations. Instead of ignoring the post, the mangaka decided to quote the video and make the terrible joke: “They have small heads, high noses, and thin lips. They really resemble Moai statues. Could they be descended from ancient peoples?”

The community couldn’t tolerate the insensitivity

As expected, Japanese and Western users found it in no way funny. The responses were filled with readers calling him out, warning that mocking the physical appearance of people suffering from congenital disorders was a terrible move for his professional image. Many pointed out the huge irony that the artist of a series full of noble heroes ended up acting like an internet bully. Although a tiny group tried to defend him, arguing he was just “very direct,” the vast majority accused him of being insensitive and racist. So far, the mangaka hasn’t deleted the message or offered a public apology, allowing the issue to escalate internationally.

This misstep reminds us that even great idols make huge mistakes when they comment on topics they don’t understand. Knowing that Japanese fans are usually very strict about their artists’ public image, do you think this massive fun against Yusuke Murata will affect the sales of his upcoming manga, or will people eventually forgive this unfortunate comment thanks to his drawing talent?