'Everbody Draw Mohammed' cartoonist: I'm against my own concept becoming a reality

May 18, 2010 @ 11:24 am (Updated: 2:21 pm - 3/28/11 )

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Seattle cartoonist Molly Norris drew up a sketch declaring May 20th "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day" in response to Comedy Central's cutting of a portion of a South Park episode following a death threat from a radical Muslim group. (MollyNorris.com) | Zoom
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By JAMIE GRISWOLD
MyNorthwest.com

The Seattle artist whose cartoon sparked the "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day" campaign says as the May 20th drawing deadline approaches, she's keeping her distance.

"I'm against my own concept becoming a reality," said cartoonist Molly Norris in an appearance on The Dave Ross Show.

"If I had wanted to be taken seriously, I would be thrilled, but now I'm horrified because people did take it as an actual day. The one-off cartoon is not good as a long term plan because it's offensive."

Norris drew up a sketch declaring May 20th "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day" in response to Comedy Central's cutting of a portion of a South Park episode following a death threat from a radical Muslim group.

"As a cartoonist I just felt so much passion about what had happened I wanted to kind of counter Comedy Central's message they sent about feeling afraid," Norris said in an April appearance on the Dave Ross Show.

Norris' cartoon struck a chord with people, gaining national attention, but the artist says she was never that invested in the idea.

"I was pretty weak in my commitment and I realized I only wanted it to be a cartoon, so I never went through with it. I never set up a place to send drawings or anything."

Listen: Molly Norris on with Dave Ross

When Norris didn't set up a collection point, another person set up a facebook page to collect drawing submissions. As the concept grew, Norris began trying to distance herself from the campaign posting this message on her website on April 25th:

I make cartoons about current, cultural events. I made a cartoon of a 'poster' entitled "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day!" with a nonexistent group's name -- Citizens Against Citizens Against Humor -- drawn on the cartoon also. I did not intend for my cartoon to go viral. I did not intend to be the focus of any 'group'. I practice the first amendment by drawing what I wish. This particular cartoon of a 'poster' seems to have struck a gigantic nerve, something I was totally unprepared for. I am going back to the drawing table now!

Norris currently has a message posted on her website that apologizes to people of the Muslim faith and asks that the day be called off:

I meant for this to remain a fictional CARTOON, an artistic IDEA, never to catch fire as an actual 'event'.

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Comments (32)


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  • hnuh wrote...
    coward
    May 18, 2010 11:59 am
    frightened, frightened by the religeon of peace and hiding behind weasel words.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hpygolkyone wrote...
    This Story Has My BS Meter Pegged Also!.........
    May 18, 2010 12:04 pm
    This is almost as bad a story as the man who didn't eat or drink for 70 years.....total BS. Of course she wanted attention, that's why she drew the cartoon. How dumb does she think people are.....oh, that's right she was interviewed on the Dave Ross show.......sorry....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • JMGilday wrote...
    she's just a kid
    May 18, 2010 12:20 pm
    and the a-holes that threatened her mean business! We have big men with big guns to deal with Islamic fundamentalists - ne real need for a young girl with crayons to have to take them on.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • anthonw wrote...
    Typical Coward
    May 18, 2010 12:53 pm
    What she (the artist) be backing down if it were draw Jesus day? Of course not.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wonderfullone wrote...
    typical for the liberal mindset
    May 18, 2010 12:56 pm
    you don't deserve the freedom you expect
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • TigerSGT wrote...
    flippen coward
    May 18, 2010 1:49 pm
    What the hell is she thinking. You stand up for what you believe in. Don't back down because of these radical a holes. I killed many of them in my day and I would never back down from one in my own house. If i want to draw mohamed I would. I am just not that good at drawing. So if some crazy bomb wearing radical rag head wants to get all butthurt of this then he must not understand his own religion. and SHAME on her for backing down!!! What a coward and I am so glad someone else picked up where she left off. I feel that all those d-bags are crazy and should be locked up tight.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • couchpotatoslacker wrote...
    Typical
    May 18, 2010 1:51 pm
    What do you expect from the spineless people that are from the Seattle area?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    what is she afraid of?
    May 18, 2010 2:19 pm
    Atty Gen Holder said that the islamists aren't even real muslims. I didn't realize he was qualified to determine what is and what isn't a legitimate interpretation of the Quran...perhaps he'll provide us with his credentials so we can compare them with the imams who support radical islamists.

    But we've been told over and over again that Islam is a relgion of peace, so I'm sure that she's entirely safe...so what is she afraid of? Surely no one would possibly be motivated by their muslim faith to actually hurt another over a cartoon, right? After all, we are continually told that "jihad" is just an internal struggle...and all those surahs that talk about beheading people...well, no one really does that sort of stuff, now do they? /sarcasm

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • the postmortem wrote...
    The Call
    May 18, 2010 2:45 pm
    Molly: Hello?

    Mr. X: Is this Molly Norris?

    Molly: Who is this?

    Mr. X: That doesn't matter. What matters is that you have outraged we who are Muslims. You will pay unless you reverse your cartoon on the prophet Mohammed.

    Molly: What do you mean?

    Mr. X: If you don't take that back, your "Draw Mohammed Day", you will face the consequences of your actions.

    Molly: Ok. Whatever you want.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Glover W wrote...
    This is great!
    May 18, 2010 2:52 pm
    The word "P***Y" comes to mind!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }