Within the wake of the assassination of conservative media character Charlie Kirk, Comedy Central has elected to not re-air an episode of the most recent season of “South Park” that poked enjoyable at Kirk.
The episode — titled “Bought a Nut” — aired again on August 6 and was scheduled to air a re-run on Wednesday evening, however the cable community owned by Paramount and Skydance pulled the episode after Kirk was fatally shot whereas talking at Utah Valley College on Wednesday. The episode stays obtainable for streaming on Paramount+.
Some conservatives, together with no less than one at Kirk’s Turning Level USA, wrote on Telegram (through the New York Publish), “Comedy has penalties. Charlie was focused within the tradition earlier than he was focused in actual life.” Different right-wing figures have directed blame at “South Park” for the disturbing act of political violence as effectively.
However Kirk himself was a fan of the episode after it aired, calling it “hilarious,” and saying he might inform “South Park” creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker had been watching some episodes of his present. You’ll be able to watch his response through TikTok.
“Our ‘Show Me Wrongs,’ our viral, cultural domination on primetime on Comedy Central. So impactful, so vital, that ‘South Park’ is highlighting it,” Kirk stated. He went on to seek advice from a Bible verse, of which he stated the present “will get this proper,” and confirmed a clip by which Cartman, with a haircut to resemble Kirk’s personal, turns into a “grasp debater” and fires again at a weepy faculty pupil…all whereas he’s sitting on the bathroom together with his laptop computer.
“There’s going to be quite a bit stated about this, however we have to have spirit about being made enjoyable of. That is all successful, that is all a win. We as conservatives, now we have thick pores and skin, not skinny pores and skin, and you may make enjoyable of us, and it doesn’t matter,” Kirk stated. “And till subsequent time, I hope all of you develop into grasp debaters for fact,” with Kirk ensuring he clearly pronounced every of these separate phrases in “grasp debaters.”
The episode additionally showcased “The Charlie Kirk Awards” celebrating younger individuals who have been “furiously grasp debating” and are utilizing “grasp debation” to avoid wasting America. The episode reveals Cartman successfully changing into Kirk after he realizes one other child at college, Clyde, may be very casually getting an enormous following doing easy Show Me Incorrect movies, successfully stealing what has develop into Eric Cartman’s calling card for the previous 25+ years of tv.
This season of “South Park” has been all around the MAGA crowd, and its lampooning of Kirk was arguably tame compared to the way it has depicted President Trump and the Trump administration’s Kristi Noem in the identical episode as Kirk. The episode noticed Noem repeatedly taking pictures canines within the face in a reference to Noem admitting in her guide that she had shot and killed her 14-month-old canine. The present has additionally ceaselessly proven Trump stripping down bare, mocking what they are saying is his small penis, and even confirmed an AI-generated Trump stumbling bare by way of the desert like a wandering messiah. Whereas Kirk received’t be the topic of the present’s satire any additional, don’t count on Matt and Trey to carry again on others transferring ahead.
“South Park” airs on Wednesdays on Comedy Central.