South Park Charlie Kirk Episode Still on Paramount+ After Supposedly Being Pulled

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It appears that Comedy Central has decided not to air a contentious South Park episode poking fun at Charlie Kirk on their television network. However, those with a Paramount+ subscription can still access the satire easily online.

The “Got a Nut” episode, which was broadcast in August during Season 27, sparked intense criticism by satirizing Kirk through an Eric Cartman parody. Despite Kirk’s recent death at Utah Valley University, the network has only partially acted – pulling the episode from its nightly television schedule but keeping it accessible on streaming platforms.

The Episode That Sparked Outrage

Portrayed various political personalities humorously: Kristi Noem depicted with joyful hunting of dogs, Donald Trump linked with the devil, and Vice President JD Vance made for chuckles. However, it was the depiction of Kirk that garnered attention in the headlines.

In a satirical manner imitating Kirk’s bold approach in debates, Cartman conducts a podcast. He engages students on political matters, brandishes a Bible during public gatherings, and fiercely ridicules those he perceives as politically correct. The similarity to Kirk was so striking that the conservative activist even chuckled about it on his own podcast, commenting that the show unintentionally promotes religious beliefs.

From Controversy to Crisis

In simpler terms, the humor in the show, South Park, was as expected until the unexpected event of Kirk’s murder on Wednesday. This tragic incident occurred when he was answering questions at UVU, and he left behind his spouse Erika and two young kids.

Following his demise, critics accused South Park of thoughtlessly singling out Kirk for derision.

“Pulled”… But Not Really

Although Comedy Central seems to have stopped broadcasting Got a Nut on their regular TV schedule, it’s still available in its entirety on Paramount+’s streaming platform. This dual strategy has sparked debate about whether the show’s removal was a genuine display of sensitivity or just a strategic move to quell criticism.

The importance of appearance is evident here. By maintaining the episode online, ViacomCBS earns profits from the satire that critics deem harmful, yet simultaneously presents themselves as taking a stand by removing it from cable. Both supporters and critics find this apparent contradiction hard to overlook.

A Double Standard Compared to Past Censorship

Comedy Central and Paramount have often faced backlash for temporarily removing episodes of South Park when certain groups find the content offensive. For instance, during Season 10, two-part episodes titled Cartoon Wars (episodes 3 and 4) centered around a storyline where Family Guy dared to depict the Muslim Prophet in a brief aside joke. Although they hinted at the image, they eventually decided to self-censor due to public pressure.

Progress to the series’ 200th and 21st episodes, where Muhammad was once more portrayed – this time in a larger narrative involving several of the show’s previous antagonists. Yet again, executives took action, not only editing certain parts of the broadcast but ultimately removing all four episodes – Cartoon Wars Part 1 & 2 and 200 & 201 – from both television reruns and all online streaming services.

To this very moment, those specific episodes have yet to appear on Paramount+, even though they are a recognized aspect of the series’ historical record.

The difference is quite notable. When threats were made by Islamist organizations, ViacomCBS erased the content completely. However, when an episode satirized Charlie Kirk – a conservative Christian figure who was fictitiously assassinated – the network chose to remove it from cable reruns but kept it on Paramount+ for ongoing streaming profits.

Paramount’s Half Measure

The passing away of Charlie Kirk was a deeply regrettable event that highlighted deep-seated divisions in the United States. For South Park, a series known for its biting humor targeting both political sides, the occurrence of this specific episode has transformed satire into controversy.

However, it’s important to note that although Comedy Central might seem to be removing the episode, it continues to thrive on streaming platforms. This tactic keeps Parker and Stone’s work at the heart of a contemporary cultural debate – a conflict where tragedy, humor, and corporate tactics intersect dramatically.

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2025-09-11 19:56