The animated series South Park is under scrutiny over an episode mocking Charlie Kirk just weeks before the conservative commentator was shot and killed at Utah Valley University.
Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot on September 10 while debating students at a campus event. A suspect, Tyler Robinson, 22, from Utah, is in custody for the shooting.
Highlights
- South Park's episode parodying Charlie Kirk aired weeks before he was fatally shot at Utah Valley University.
- The episode mocked Kirk's campus debate style, with Cartman portraying him as a 'master debater.'
- Fans have criticized South Park for the episode's timing, with some demanding the show's cancellation.
U.S. President Donald Trump was among the first political figures to confirm Kirk’s death.
South Park is under scrutiny over an episode mocking Charlie Kirk
Image credits: Nordin Catic/Getty Images
The shooting sparked immediate outrage and grief, including toward South Park Season 27’s episode 2: ‘Got a Nut.’ In the show, character Eric Cartman parodied Kirk as a “master debater” who thrived on arguing with college students, impersonating his signature style.
He said at one point, “I'm getting really good at this! I have my arguments down rock-solid, these young college girls are totally unprepared so I can just destroy them and, also, edit out all the ones who actually argue back well.”
Another scene features Cartman parodying Kirk’s well-known campus debates. In the clip, Cartman argues with a college student about abortion rights, echoing the tone of Kirk’s viral debate videos.
The shot then pulls back to reveal Cartman seated on a toilet while conducting the exchange. As his mother walks past and asks if he is alright, Cartman responds, “I am master debating these young college girls.”
“That’s very naughty, Eric, stop it,” his mother responds.
Image credits: Paramount
Following Kirk’s death, clips of the episode resurfaced on social media. Critics argued the portrayal was in poor taste given the circumstances. Some went further, demanding the long-running Comedy Central series be cancelled.
“Hate to say it because I was a South Park fan from day 1, but that show should now be cancelled,” one user wrote on X. Another added, “Well, on the plus side, it looks like 'South Park' is about to be cancelled.”
A third posted, “South Park is also to blame for what happened to Charlie Kirk. Not one ‘Biden’ episode for 4 years. Then as soon as Trump is in they literally put him in bed with the devil & add Charlie Kirk to the episode.”
In response to the backlash, Comedy Central quietly pulled the episode from its broadcast lineup. The Irish Star reported that ‘Got a Nut’ was removed from the rerun schedule on September 11, a day after the assassination.
The network did not issue a formal statement but confirmed the episode remains available on streaming platforms, including CC On Demand and Paramount+, while being removed from Comedy Central.
The episode parodies Kirk’s signature campus debate style
This is not the first time South Park has withdrawn an episode. Over its 28-year run, several installments have been restricted for content considered too controversial.
Despite the renewed criticism, Kirk himself did not object to the parody. Before his death, he publicly commented on the episode and shared clips on social media.
“They’re going to obviously make fun of me … but I think it’s kind of funny and it kind of goes to show the cultural impact and the resonance that our movement has been able to achieve,” he said.
He said the episode was both funny and a testament to his cultural influence. Kirk shared the jokes mocking him from the episode, saying, “There is going to be a lot said about this, but we have got to have a good spirit about being made fun of.
“This is all a success, all a win, we as conservatives, we have thick skin, not thin skin, and you can make fun of us, it doesn’t matter,” he added.
The show’s creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, have not issued a public comment on Kirk’s death or calls for the show’s cancellation.
The next episode of South Park is scheduled to air on September 17.
This is not South Park’s first rodeo into criticizing MAGA figures. In July, the creators premiered Season 27, with an episode titled ‘Sermon on the Mount,’ mocking Trump’s lawsuits, his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, and Paramount’s willingness to settle its lawsuit.
The series had gone as far as to show a hyperrealistic deepfake of a nude Trump looking down at his talking penis, which squeaked, “I’m Donald J. Trump and I endorse this message.”
The ad closed with a narrator declaring, “His penis is teeny tiny, but his love for us is large.”