Writers behind the popular adult comedy show South Park are facing backlash following accusations that they targeted Charlie Kirk in an episode that aired prior to his tragic death.
The 31-year-old right-wing influencer was fatally shot during a rally for conservative students at Utah Valley University. Authorities are currently conducting a large-scale manhunt for the shooter, who allegedly fired from a nearby building on the university campus.
US President Donald Trump, a close associate of Kirk, expressed deep sorrow and anger over the “heinous assassination,” labeling it as a dark moment for America in a video message from the Oval Office.
In the lead-up to the incident, South Park had parodied key figures in the ‘MAGA’ movement, including Kirk, in an episode titled ‘Got a Nut.’ The episode, which has since been removed from streaming services, featured a character mimicking Kirk’s style of engaging in debates on college campuses, prompting a response from Kirk himself.
Before the episode aired, Kirk anticipated the satire, acknowledging the cultural impact of his movement and emphasizing the importance of conservatives being able to take a joke. Despite filming a reaction to the parody, Kirk chose to exclude a segment where his character was portrayed negatively in the debates.
Following Kirk’s untimely death, some fans of the commentator criticized South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone for allegedly vilifying him, with speculations arising that the show might face cancellation.
While some viewers called for the show to be axed, citing the portrayal of Kirk, others defended South Park, highlighting that there was no proof linking the show to the tragic event. Additionally, supporters noted that Kirk had embraced the parody, even changing his TikTok profile picture to a South Park scene.
The Mirror sought comments from representatives of the show and Comedy Central regarding the controversy and public reactions.
