NEWS: Washington Post Criticized for Calling Khamenei ‘Avuncular’ With an ‘Easy Smile’

The Washington Post is facing strong backlash after describing Iran’s late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as “avuncular” and noting his “easy smile” in an obituary published following his death.

Critics on social media and among political commentators argued the wording appeared to humanize a leader widely accused of overseeing repression, executions, and regional conflicts during his decades in power. Supporters of the article said obituaries often include personal descriptions alongside political records to provide a fuller portrait of historical figures.

The controversy comes amid broader debates over how major Western media outlets characterize controversial leaders after death, with similar criticism recently directed at coverage from other newspapers.

Despite the criticism, the obituary also detailed Khamenei’s authoritarian rule, anti-Western policies, and crackdowns on protests during his more than 30 years leading Iran.