Mark Nicholson, the co-founder of Stepmates Studios and a One Nation candidate for the Victorian upper house, has refused to apologize for a satirical cartoon that mocked Senator Jacqui Lambie’s medical condition. The animated video, part of the party's "Please Explain" series, featured a caricature of the Tasmanian senator referencing her vaginal prolapse, a health issue she previously disclosed in Parliament.
Speaking to ABC’s 7.30, Mr. Nicholson defended the content as satire, stating that public figures are subject to parody. He denied trivializing the condition, arguing that the video instead drew attention to it. While the cartoon has since been removed, Mr. Nicholson maintained that he would only apologize if he felt his actions were "apology-worthy."
Criticism of One Nation’s Content
Senator Lambie expressed disbelief at the refusal, questioning Mr. Nicholson’s maturity and fitness for political office. She also criticized One Nation leader Pauline Hanson for failing to provide a personal apology or properly vet the content produced under her party's banner. While Senator Hanson initially defended the video, she later admitted it was not "tastefully done."
The controversy extends beyond the Lambie cartoon. Stepmates Studios recently produced an AI-generated campaign advertisement for One Nation’s Victorian election bid. The ad, which utilizes stereotypes of minority groups to address themes of crime and immigration, has drawn sharp condemnation from researchers and political peers. Lucas Whittaker, a researcher at Swinburne University, described the party's use of AI to propagate stereotypes as "very worrying."
Senator Lambie condemned the advertisement as "disgusting" and divisive, arguing that such content heightens community tensions. Despite the backlash, Mr. Nicholson defended the AI-generated imagery, claiming the use of stereotypes is necessary for character-based satire.
