Writers of the popular adult animated series South Park are facing backlash following accusations that the show targeted Charlie Kirk in an episode that aired prior to his recent tragic death.
The 31-year-old right-wing influencer was fatally shot during a gathering of conservative students at Utah Valley University, prompting a widespread search for the perpetrator who fired from a building on the university campus.
President Donald Trump, a close associate of Kirk, expressed deep sorrow and anger over the “heinous assassination,” calling it a dark moment for the country in a video message from the Oval Office.
Leading up to the unfortunate incident, South Park had parodied key figures in the ‘MAGA’ movement, including Kirk, in an episode named ‘Got a Nut,’ which has since been removed from streaming services. The episode featured a portrayal of Eric Cartman mimicking Kirk’s campus debate style, eliciting a response from Kirk himself.
Despite Kirk’s positive initial reaction to the parody, some of his supporters have criticized the show’s creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, for allegedly vilifying him, with speculations arising that the show might face cancellation.
While some viewers have called for the show’s termination, others have defended South Park, emphasizing that there is no evidence linking the shooting to the episode, and noting Kirk’s own amusement at the parody by changing his TikTok profile picture to a South Park image.
The Mirror has sought comments from representatives of South Park and Comedy Central regarding the situation.