The Hollywood Reporter publishes false headline that ‘MAGA blames ‘South Park’ for Charlie Kirk assassination’

The Hollywood Reporter came under deserved backlash after publishing a story claiming “MAGA blames South Park” for the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

While Comedy Central has pulled the “South Park” episode that featured a parody of the Turning Point USA co-founder, it has not been on account of any criticism in the wake of Kirk’s murder last week in Utah.

Despite The Hollywood Reporter’s headline and claim that “some on the right are taking aim at the show,” the article itself notes the “majority on the right were quick to note they do not blame the series, so the impulse to bash the show has been far from universal.” A note following the article even explained an update after quotes from “multiple conservative figures” turned out to be ‘fake news.’

MAGA Blames ‘South Park’ for Charlie Kirk Assassination as Comedy Central Pulls Episode https://t.co/0QRvX1XLtt

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) September 14, 2025

Comedy Central reportedly pulled a repeat airing of the Kirk parody episode and “sources say the channel will not be airing the episode in its linear rotation for the immediate future,” according to THR.

“On a Reddit thread about the episode being pulled, fans agreed not airing the episode was ‘the polite thing to do’ while also concurring that South Park doesn’t deserve blame for the real-life violence,” THR reported.

Reader context added to the post on X noted how the article itself contradicted the headline.

“An earlier version of this article cited and linked a major media outlet quoting multiple conservative figures criticizing South Park over Kirk’s killing. The outlet has since deleted these quotes and they were denied as being real on social media,” THR said in a note added at the bottom of the post.

Many social media users noted how Kirk actually found the episode “hilarious” and would have wanted it to stay on air.

This is false. Charlie loved it.

— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKsway) September 15, 2025

Charlie changed his X icon to the Charlie Kirk version of Cartman for a while ! No one blames South Park.

— Hanan-EL (@HouseofEl81) September 15, 2025

Completely fake. I’ve seen more conservatives argue to put the episode back on the air than blame SP for the assassination.

— Nescio (@BookEmperor) September 14, 2025

Others on X  basted The Hollywood Reporter and its sources for manipulating a story and quotes.

The headline is purposefully misleading

— Erman Baradi (@ermanbaradi) September 14, 2025

I just read the article.

“MAGA” didn’t “blame South Park” – three people did. THREE people said that in the article. You didn’t even bother source them and you pulled most of your info from ANOTHER article.

Man, you guys are pathetic.

— Stuttering Craig (Official) (@StutteringCraig) September 15, 2025

That’s also not something I said at all. As in, I don’t even agree with that quote and would never say it. https://t.co/vxfQuPOsuf

— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) September 15, 2025

I’ve read almost no one do so. Comedy Central probably pulled the episode because it’s in bad taste to air an episode making fun of a guy who was just assassinated

— Loudmouth Reviewer (@LoudmouthR) September 14, 2025

Y’all just can’t stop lying. Nobody but you is trying to blame South Park. ‍

Your deflection attempt is rejected.

— Uncultured Purrl (@AmericanPurrl) September 15, 2025

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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.

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