There has been a lot of discussion lately about shows like “South Park” and whether they push their content too far. This year, especially, the show has faced intense scrutiny.
Just a month after they aired an episode mocking Charlie Kirk, he was assassinated. On top of that, the current storyline involving President Trump having a sexual relationship with Satan has stirred even more controversy.
I’ll admit up front that I haven’t seen many episodes of the show. It’s not the satire itself; I find that Parker and Stone are even-handed in making fun of all sides. My issue is that I find the show a bit vulgar. Still, I’ve watched a few episodes because of their cultural relevance, and one episode from several years ago stands out as particularly compelling considering recent debates. So instead of giving my opinion, what would “South Park” say?
The episode is “Breast Cancer Show Ever” from 2008. In it, Wendy Testaburger is trying to give a presentation about breast cancer, but is repeatedly interrupted by Eric Cartman. Later, Cartman mocks the disease while Wendy is trying to put up posters to raise awareness. Frustrated that no one—especially the adults—will stop him, Wendy finally challenges Cartman to a fight.
Cartman panics at the realization that he will probably lose and look foolish in front of his friends. He then makes several attempts to get out of the confrontation, including intentionally getting suspended. His plan backfires when the other students recognize what he’s doing. Finally, he cries to his mother that he’s being bullied, hoping she will intervene with Wendy’s parents. His ploy works, and Wendy’s parents threaten her with punishment if she fights him.
Feeling protected, Cartman becomes even worse. He escalates his taunts, even creating his own presentation mocking the disease. Each time Wendy nearly snaps, he reminds her that she’ll be punished if she retaliates.
After she eventually has an outburst, Wendy is called to the principal’s office. Expecting discipline, she is instead given unexpected advice, “Cancer is pure evil. It is a fat, little lump that needs to be destroyed. When there is a cancer, you have to fight it. You can’t reason with cancer. You can’t wish it away. Cancer doesn’t play by the rules, so neither can you… You have to be willing to give up everything because the cancer will take everything.”
Wendy understands the message, and at the next recess, she beats the tar out of Cartman.
This episode feels relevant to our current situation. The show’s two main characters, Stan Marsh and Kyle Broflovski, are supposedly based on the childhoods of creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, but in many ways, they more resemble Cartman. They mock everything and everyone because they know there are no real repercussions. They use the First Amendment the same way Cartman used Wendy’s parents, as a shield to prevent accountability.
In trying so hard to protect the bullied, we’ve accidentally created a new kind of bully: anyone with a keyboard.
Bullies used to require physical strength to back their actions, but new bullies have no fear. Making fun of someone’s girlfriend once risked a punch in the face. Yet today, the person who throws the punch is the one suspended or charged while the bully laughs. Effectually, we’ve created a society of Cartmans.
To be clear, I am not calling for violence, nor am I advocating a return to “old school” bullying. I’m not calling for cancellation either; much of “South Park” is funny, and the creators have the right to produce their satire. What I’m saying is that it’s fascinating that “South Park” itself, personified through Cartman mocking everyone, seems to acknowledge that this kind of behavior might at times warrant real consequences from those being targeted. The episode almost suggests that maybe, in some situations, a metaphorical or even actual punch in the nose might be justified for the very thing they are doing.
James Finck is a professor of American history at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. He can be reached at HistoricallySpeaking1776@gmail.com. Thanks to Southwest Ledger for sharing his column.
