Comedy Central has quietly pulled a recent South Park episode parodying Charlie Kirk, the day after the conservative activist was assassinated during a campus event in Utah.
South Park Parody Yanked from Reruns
The episode, titled Got a Nut, aired as part of the satirical show’s 27th season, which has frequently targeted Donald Trump and the MAGA movement.
In the episode, Kirk was parodied through Eric Cartman, who launched his own podcast and hosted “prove me wrong” debates.
Although reruns were scheduled to air this week, Comedy Central replaced the episode with Sickofancy following Kirk’s death. The episode still appears to be available on the streaming service Paramount+.
Before his assassination, Kirk seemed to brush off the parody, calling it “spreading the gospel.”
The Deadly Shooting at Utah Valley University
Kirk, 31, was fatally shot on Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem. Roughly 3,000 people had gathered in the school’s outdoor quad when a single gunshot rang out at around 12:20PM.
Graphic video shows the moment Kirk was struck in the neck and collapsed as bystanders screamed: "Get down! Get down!"
"I heard a loud shot, a loud bang and then I saw his body actually - in slow motion - kind of fall over," one eyewitness told reporters, per BBC News.
Former Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz, who was present, described the chaos: "I was watching Charlie. I can’t say that I saw blood. I can’t say that I saw him get hit, but I did see him fall immediately backwards into his left."
Chaffetz added: "As soon as the shot went out, everybody hit the deck and everybody started scattering and yelling and screaming, as you might imagine."
Kirk was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition, but was pronounced dead within hours. His wife, Erika Lane Frantzve, and their two young children were at the event but were unharmed.
A Political Assassination
Authorities have labeled the killing an assassination. Investigators believe the shot came from the roof of UVU’s Losee Center, which overlooks the quad. Witnesses reported the gunman was "dressed in dark clothing" and wearing a black mask, carrying a long gun.
Videos circulating online appear to show a figure lying on the rooftop before fleeing, but the poor quality has made it difficult to confirm.
"This shooting is still an active investigation," the Department of Public Safety said in a statement, per the New York Post.
False Leads and Released Suspects
The manhunt has been riddled with confusion. Two suspects were initially detained and later cleared.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed: "The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement. Our investigation continues and we will continue to release information in interest of transparency."
The announcement came less than two hours after Patel had declared that a suspect was in custody, standing alongside Utah Gov. Spencer Cox at a press conference.
One released individual’s mother told reporters her son was “super shaken” after witnessing the shooting and being detained.
"He’s a great kid," she said. "I have a picture of him. He’s like 25-feet from Charlie on the other side that he was shot. He sent us a video."
She added that her son was a Kirk supporter who had traveled to UVU to see him speak: "He was attending like any other college kid. He listens to him."
The other man detained — an older individual seen with his pants around his ankles — was dragged away by police, with officers telling crowds he had confessed. He too was later cleared.
With both men released, Kirk’s assassin remains at large, though the FBI has said they have the murder weapon and an image of the suspect.
Trump’s Emotional Response
Donald Trump was the first to confirm Kirk’s death, posting a video statement on Truth Social.
He said he was "filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk," describing it as a "dark moment for America."
"Charlie inspired millions and tonight all who knew him and loved him are united in shock and horror," Trump said. "Charlie is a patriot who devoted his life to the cause of open debate and the country that he loves so much, the United States of America."
He continued: "He's a model for truth and freedom, and there's never been anyone who was so respected by youth."
Trump also called Kirk "a man of deep, deep faith," adding: "We take comfort in the knowledge that he is now at peace with God in heaven," while asking God to protect Kirk's wife and children "in this terrible hour of heartache and pain."