An Alaska man known for illustrating widely distributed children’s books with cute mother-baby animal pairs has been dropped by his publisher after authorities allege he posted transphobic notes threatening children. They say he may have been influenced by a recent Nashville school shooting that fueled online backlash against transgender people. Mitchell Thomas Watley will have a preliminary hearing April 11 on a single count of terroristic threatening. He is accused of placing notes in businesses that included an assault rifle superimposed over the transgender flag. The text on the notes read: “Feeling Cute Might Shoot Some Children.”
Illustrator Mitchell Thomas Watley was dropped by his publisher this week after authorities allege he posted transphobic notes in locations around Juneau threatening children.
A children’s book illustrator from Alaska was dropped by his publisher this week after authorities allege he posted transphobic notes threatening children.