Comedy Central has pulled a controversial South Park episode after the shocking assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, an event that has left both political and entertainment circles reeling. The episode, titled Got a Nut, originally aired on August 6 and featured Eric Cartman mimicking Kirk’s appearance and mannerisms during a parody of a college debate podcast.
It concluded with Cartman receiving a fictional “Charlie Kirk Award for Young Masterdebaters,” a moment that drew immediate attention for lampooning Kirk’s public speaking style. At the time, Kirk himself appeared unfazed, even amused by the satire. On August 7, just a day after the broadcast, he posted a TikTok video laughing off the parody and calling it “hilarious,” describing it as a “badge of honor.” He also changed his profile picture on X to the image of Cartman dressed in his trademark black T-shirt, saying he grew up watching South Park and considered the roast part of being a public figure.
But everything changed on September 10, when Kirk, only 31, was fatally shot in the neck while speaking at Utah Valley University during his “American Comeback Tour.” The event, attended by around 3,000 people, quickly turned chaotic. Despite heavy security, including six officers and Kirk’s private team, a gunman managed to fire a single deadly shot before escaping. Authorities have yet to identify or capture the suspect, leaving the community shaken. Former President Donald Trump confirmed Kirk’s death on Truth Social, calling him “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk,” while House Speaker Mike Johnson described the killing as “an attack on all of us.”
In response, Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA, announced it will host a memorial rally in Phoenix to honor his legacy. In the wake of the tragedy, Comedy Central made the quiet decision to remove Got a Nut from its cable lineup just hours after the assassination. Instead of airing Season 27, Episode 2, which contained the Kirk parody, the network replaced it with Episode 1. Although Comedy Central did not issue a formal public statement, industry sources confirmed that the episode had been “temporarily pulled.”
However, it remains available for streaming on Paramount+ for subscribers. The decision has sparked outrage across the political spectrum, particularly among Kirk’s supporters. Many MAGA-aligned voices online have accused South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone of crossing the line, with some blaming the parody for inciting hatred that may have fueled the assassination. Viral posts on X claimed, “They mocked him on TV, then they killed him in real life,” and others accused the creators of mocking Kirk’s Christian faith, labeling them “monsters.” This backlash has placed Comedy Central squarely in the middle of a heated cultural storm. Season 27 of South Park has already been controversial despite being only four episodes in.
Beyond the Kirk parody, Got a Nut also included subplots such as school counselor Mr. Mackey joining Immigration and Customs Enforcement, staging raids alongside Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem—yet another example of the show’s long-standing tradition of satirizing real-life political figures. For nearly three decades, Parker and Stone have built South Park on the idea that no one is beyond parody, from celebrities to presidents, and this approach has earned them both acclaim and condemnation. But in this case, the timing of the assassination just weeks after the episode aired has fueled a unique wave of backlash unlike anything the show has faced before. As the investigation continues, the suspect remains at large, and the country grapples with the shocking loss of a high-profile conservative voice.
Kirk had been a staunch ally of Donald Trump and was known as the founder of Turning Point USA, an organization dedicated to mobilizing conservative youth. His sudden death, coming on the heels of the 2024 assassination attempt against Trump in Pennsylvania, has left many conservatives feeling under siege. For Comedy Central and the creators of South Park, the controversy underscores the difficult balance between creative freedom and cultural sensitivity during times of tragedy. While the episode remains accessible on streaming, its removal from cable reflects the network’s attempt to navigate a delicate moment in the intersection of satire, politics, and real-world violence. With a new episode scheduled to air on September 17, all eyes will be on how South Park moves forward in the aftermath of this unprecedented controversy.
