One-Punch Man manga artist Yūsuke Murata is facing significant criticism after making controversial comments on X (formerly Twitter) in response to a post containing unverified claims and far-right rhetoric.

On Sunday, Murata replied in Japanese to a post that featured unverified images and a video clip of British activist Tommy Robinson making unsupported statistical claims about Pakistani Britons. Murata's response included physical descriptions that many users found offensive and discriminatory, commenting on facial features and making dehumanizing comparisons.

The original post's claims contradict research from the BBC's Born in Bradford project, which the broadcaster covered in November 2023 and February 2025. However, that project studies people born in a single Bradford hospital and doesn't represent data for the entire United Kingdom, making the comparisons problematic from a methodological standpoint.

Murata's post quickly gained traction, accumulating over 700 replies and 4,000 reposts within hours. Responses have been mixed but predominantly critical, with users expressing concern about the comments. A smaller number of replies showed support for both Murata's post and the claims made in the original thread. Some commenters speculated whether Murata had accidentally posted from his main account instead of an alternate one, though this remains unconfirmed.

The replies and quote-reposts came primarily in English and Japanese, with some contributions in other languages, reflecting the international reach of both Murata's platform and the controversy.

As of the time of reporting, Murata has not issued a statement addressing the backlash or clarifying his intentions. The incident highlights how public figures in the anime industry, despite their creative reach and influence, can find themselves at the center of social media controversies when engaging with politically charged content.

Yūsuke Murata is best known for his work as the illustrator on the One-Punch Man manga series, which has become one of the most popular manga properties globally, with multiple anime adaptations and a massive international fanbase.