TV channel Comedy Central pulled a South Park episode featuring a parody of Charlie Kirk after the conservative activist was assassinated earlier this month.
Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was shot while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University this month, dying shortly after being rushed to the hospital.
The free speech advocate, who had shared on Instagram his joy at being included in the notorious animated series, was parodied by the character Eric Cartman in the episode 'Got a nut.'
The episode originally ran in August but was scheduled to rerun on the 17th of September, though Comedy Central decided to pull the episode. It is still available on demand and on Paramount+.
In the episode, Cartman, a character known for his negative commentary on Jews and other minority groups, mimicked Kirk’s podcast and campus debates.
How did Charlie Kirk feel about his South Park appearance?
"The 'South Park' episode just dropped, and honestly, it is hilarious," Kirk said after watching the episode. "Part of it is kind of like, whatever, typical humor, but it was hilarious. Just watch this little snippet of our 'Prove Me Wrongs,' our viral, cultural domination on primetime on Comedy Central - so important, so impactful that 'South Park' is highlighting. Watch."
He also frequently shared clips from the episode on his social media and made his X profile pic an image of Cartman dressed as him.
Andrew Kolvet, executive producer of The Charlie Kirk Show, said that Kirk would want the episode to go ahead.
“Hey @paramountplus, as someone who can speak with some authority on this, Charlie loved that he was featured in South Park,” Kolvet wrote on X. “He would want the episode back up.”