Comedy Central has quietly removed a controversial episode of South Park after the shocking assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a move that has ignited a heated debate about satire, timing, and cultural sensitivity. The episode in question, titled Got a Nut, originally aired on August 6, and featured Eric Cartman imitating Kirk’s mannerisms and style during a parody college debate podcast.
The plot climaxed with Cartman winning a satirical “Charlie Kirk Award for Young Masterdebaters,” poking fun at Kirk’s speaking style and presence on campus tours. At the time, Kirk himself laughed off the portrayal, posting a TikTok video on August 7 where he described the parody as “hilarious” and said he wore it as a “badge of honor.” He even updated his X profile photo to the cartoon image of Cartman dressed in Kirk’s signature black T-shirt, telling Fox News that he grew up watching South Park and considered the satire a normal part of public life. But on September 10, during his “American Comeback Tour” stop at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, Kirk was fatally shot in the neck while addressing a crowd of about 3,000 people. Despite the presence of six officers and Kirk’s private security detail, a gunman managed to fire a single round before fleeing. Utah Valley University Police Chief Jeff Long admitted, “You try to get your bases covered, and unfortunately, today, we didn’t.”
The suspect remains at large, and authorities have yet to release a description. The assassination has shaken conservatives across the country, especially in the wake of the 2024 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania. Trump confirmed Kirk’s death on Truth Social, calling him “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk,” while House Speaker Mike Johnson described it as “an attack on all of us.” Turning Point USA, the youth-focused conservative organization founded by Kirk, announced it would hold a memorial rally in Phoenix to honor his life and legacy. Within hours of the killing, Comedy Central acted by pulling Got a Nut from its scheduled cable lineup, replacing it with Episode 1 from the same season. The network did not release an official statement but confirmed to industry outlets that the episode was “temporarily pulled.”
However, it remains available to stream on Paramount+ for subscribers. The decision came as MAGA supporters erupted online, accusing South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone of fueling hatred against Kirk. Some of the backlash on X went viral, with one widely shared post declaring, “They mocked him on TV, then they killed him in real life.” Others accused the show of mocking Kirk’s Christian faith, labeling Parker and Stone as “monsters.” The controversy places Comedy Central in the crosshairs, with critics on one side demanding accountability and others defending the show’s long-held belief that no subject should be immune from satire.
For nearly three decades, South Park has lampooned politicians, celebrities, and cultural figures from across the spectrum. In addition to parodying Kirk, the Got a Nut episode also featured school counselor Mr. Mackey joining Immigration and Customs Enforcement and participating in raids with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, another example of the show’s willingness to poke fun at real-world politics. Season 27 of South Park has already proven controversial despite only being four episodes in, and the next installment is scheduled to air September 17. Yet this time, the satire coincided with a real-life tragedy, creating a backlash unlike anything Parker and Stone have faced before. While Kirk himself had publicly embraced the parody during his life, his death transformed the episode into a flashpoint.
Many of his supporters viewed it as cruel or disrespectful in hindsight, even though Kirk had considered it part of being in the public arena. For Comedy Central, the removal reflects the network’s attempt to strike a balance between maintaining creative freedom and respecting the sensitivities of a grieving public. The assassination has amplified an already tense political climate, fueling concerns among conservatives that their movement is under attack. At just 31 years old, Kirk had established himself as a staunch ally of Trump and a leading voice in conservative youth politics, and his death has left a significant void. The fallout from his killing, combined with the debate over South Park’s parody, highlights the uneasy intersection of satire, politics, and real-world violence.
As the investigation into Kirk’s assassination continues and the suspect remains on the run, the country finds itself grappling not only with the loss of a polarizing political figure but also with the broader question of how humor and cultural commentary intersect with moments of tragedy. For Parker and Stone, the incident underscores the risks inherent in their long-standing philosophy that no topic is off-limits, while for Comedy Central, it serves as a reminder of how quickly public opinion can shift in times of national grief.
