Although it has been almost two decades since overdue return of South Park’s character comedy, an erstwhile hallmark of the series.

South Park put character-based comedy front and center in its earliest, most chaotic seasons, but the show transitioned its focus to current events around season 4. By season 10, South Park was firmly ensconced in parodying news stories as they unfolded, and the show used its episodes to spoof real-life politicians, celebrities, and public figures constantly. This often landed South Park’s creators in hot water and several South Park episodes were banned due to controversial elements. One season 10 outing made it past censors uncut but still managed to spark public outcry upon its release in 2006.

South Park Mocked Steve Irwin’s Death In 2006 (While itting It Was Too Soon)

Satan Kicked Steve Irwin Out Of Hell’s Halloween Part For His Tasteless Costume

Season 10, episode 11, “Hell On Earth 2006,” focuses on Satan’s My Super Sweet 16-style birthday party in Hell. This South Park Halloween special is mostly hilarious, and an absurd gag that portrays the late rapper Notorious B.I.G as a Bloody Mary/ Candyman-style urban legend is inspired. Unfortunately, South Park’s misjudged Steve Irwin joke from “Hell On Earth 2006” remains a rare miss for the show, and it is the sort of gag that highlights an underlying issue with the show. South Park is occasionally shocking for the sake of it, and these gags can feel too personally cruel.

South Park was criticized for mocking Steve Irwin’s death too soon due to a scene where Satan himself criticizes someone for mocking Steve Irwin’s death too soon.

In “Hell On Earth 2006,” Satan kicks Steve Irwin out of his birthday party for showing up dressed as Steve Irwin only seven weeks after the iconic TV presenter died in a tragic accident. Technically, Satan kicks Irwin out for not wearing a costume after he realizes that he is the real Steve Irwin and not someone else who donned a tasteless costume. However, the gag still ironically acknowledges its own tactlessness. After all, South Park was criticized for mocking Steve Irwin’s death too soon due to a scene where Satan himself criticizes someone for mocking Steve Irwin’s death too soon.

The Reaction To South Park's Steve Irwin Joke Explained

South Park’s Creators Didn’t Expect Steve Irwin’s Halloween Gag To Cause Controversy

Although South Park’s gag did concede that it was tacky, this wasn’t enough to stop the joke from receiving pushback. South Park’s streak of mocking every sitting president in the show's lifetime proves that no target is above its satirical volleys, but Irwin’s universally beloved public image meant the joke simply felt pointless. His widow, fellow conservationist Terri Irwin, decried the gag as “Cruel,” and this is hard to argue with this judgment when the gag has no clever element of underlying satire. South Park’s Steven Irwin joke was purely for tasteless shock value and not particularly funny as a result.

Source: Vanity Fair

Now To Love New Zealand