South Park’s latest episode cancelled just hours before airing

South Park creators Trey Stone and Matt Parker issued a rare statement on Wednesday, just hours before the latest episode of their headline-making 27th season was supposed to air, saying the new episode wouldn’t make it to screens because they “didn’t get it done in time.”

“Apparently when you do everything at the last minute sometimes you don’t get it done. This one’s on us. Thanks to Comedy Central and South Park fans for being so understanding. Tune in next week,” the duo wrote.

 

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It’s particularly questionable given the anticipation surrounding the upcoming fifth episode, which would’ve been the first to go to air since Charlie Kirk’s assassination in Utah last week.

The move also kicked off a turbulent day in US television, with veteran late night host Jimmy Kimmel having his show pulled “indefinitely” on the ABC network over recent comments he made about Kirk’s death.

In what’s been labelled an “attack on free speech”, Jimmy Kimmel Live! has been sensationally stalled after the host peddled a conspiracy that Kirk’s alleged assassin Tyler Robinson was a member of the “MAGA gang”.

“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said in his monologue Monday.

The latest season of South Park has spurred significant controversy, with the notoriously-unrestrained show going after US President Donald Trump and MAGA culture like it never has before, with Kirk himself mocked in an episode just weeks before he was killed at a university in the US state.

The surprise axing has sent shockwaves through Hollywood and has been slammed on social media as an “attack on free speech,” with actor Ben Stiller tweeting simply: “This isn’t right.”

The shock decision also comes two months after US President Donald Trump had publicly declared Kimmel would be the “next” talk show host to have their show cancelled.

Premiering on August 6, the episode titled “Got a Nut” showed main character Eric Cartman embody Kirk’s mannerisms, style and haircut, becoming a “master debater” who tours universities to challenge progressives.

The depiction mirrored Kirk’s polarising reputation as a viral influencer who frequently engages in heated disputes peddling his progressive values, which have over the years seen him condemn “woke” culture, speak out against critical race theory, gender identity and climate change.

While Kirk’s feature was actually quite a mild depiction by South Park’s ruthless standards, Mr Trump has copped a brutal portrayal in the new season, which showed the President involved in a romantic relationship with Satan. The latest episode saw Satan fall pregnant with Mr Trump’s baby. 

South Park, which has been airing new episodes biweekly since its July 23 premiere, is expected to have a delayed return next Wednesday, September 24. 

Further reports indicate South Park will take an extended break before airing its sixth episode on October 15, with the remaining four episodes dropping biweekly until December 10.

Stone and Parker are yet to comment on Kirk’s death, though the “Got A Nut” episode has been yanked from repeat viewing on Comedy Central. It remains available to stream on Paramount+.

Despite coming off as a joke in the long-running satire, Kirk laughed off his portrayal in one of his last media interviews with Fox News Digital, describing his characterisation in the show as a “badge of honour”.

“I think it’s kind of funny and it kind of goes to show the cultural impact and the resonance that our movement has been able to achieve,” Kirk told Fox News Digital in July ahead of the episode airing.

“They’re professional comedians. They’re probably gonna roast me, and I think that’s fine, and that’s what it’s all about, being in public life and, you know, making a difference, and I’m gonna have a good spirit about it. I’ll watch it. I’m going to laugh at it.

“From a religious standpoint, we’re all sinners. We all fall short of the glory of God. 

“Like from a more practical life standpoint, we’re all broken people. Stop taking yourself so seriously. That’s probably one of the problems that we’ve had in our politics is that people can’t take a joke.”

Utah local Tyler Robinson, 22, has since been arrested over Kirk’s shooting, charged with aggravated murder.