PRIVATE Eye has issued a statement after a cartoonist announced he had quit in a row over a recent cover.
Zoom Rockman said he had received a death threat about a cover which contained the warning that the issue contained “some criticism of the Israeli government and may suggest that killing everyone in Gaza as revenge for Hamas atrocities may not be a good long-term solution to the problems of the region”.
In a statement published on Twitter/X, Private Eye said: “We are very concerned that one of our contributors should have received a death threat and contacted Zoom as soon as we found out.
We are very concerned that one of our contributors should have received a death threat and contacted Zoom as soon as we found out. 1/2
— Private Eye Magazine (@PrivateEyeNews) November 2, 2023
“We spoke to him at length yesterday. He did not approve of last issue’s cover and no longer wishes to contribute to the magazine.
“This is entirely up to him but it is a matter of regret for us.”
READ MORE: Celtic fans hit back after accusations of 'antisemitism'
However, Rockman alleged he had informed bosses at Private Eye about the threat but that he had received “no response” when he alerted them to the threat.
In a post on Twitter/X, he said: “Following their incendiary cover of issue 1609 I received a death threat which I made them aware of and received no response.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel