MAGA supporters are blaming South Park for the assassination of Charlie Kirk on Wednesday.
In the shock following the shooting, conservative critics pointed to the Aug. 6, 2025 episode of the cartoon called “Got a Nut,” in which Eric Cartman plays a version the late conservative influencer, as a factor motivating the attack.
In the episode, Cartman goes to college campuses for open “debates,” like Kirk. He also adopts Kirk’s hairstyle and mannerisms. The episode culminated with the awarding of the “Charlie Kirk Award for Young Masterdebaters.” Kirk described the parody as “hilarious” in a TikTok posted Aug. 7.
“You know what, f--- it. Let’s blame South Park,” wrote one angry conservative commenter on X. “Blame the media. Blame leftist rhetoric. These people hate you and want to see you dead. If they’ll kill Charlie Kirk and piss on his grave, they’ll do it to any of us.”
Another posted, “South Park certainly fomented the hatred necessary to get Kirk assassinated.”
“Trey Parker and Matt Stone are responsible for this,” posted a third.
And the popular account Johnny MAGA wrote, “South Park attacking Charlie Kirk’s college campus events and mocking his Christian faith just a few weeks ago,” along with a clip from the episode, adding, “Monsters.”
The Daily Beast has reached out to Comedy Central for comment.
Kirk, 31, was shot in the neck and killed Wednesday at Utah Valley University campus, where he was hosting his first event as part of his “America Comeback Tour.” University spokeswoman Ellen Treanor said only a single shot was fired.
President Donald Trump confirmed his death on his Truth Social account, writing, “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead.”
Utah Valley University police chief Jeff Long said six officers were at the Turning Point USA event, which was attended by around 3,000 people. He said Kirk also had his own security team.
“You try to get your bases covered, and unfortunately, today, we didn’t,” Long said. “Because of that, we have this tragic incident.”
