Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has criticized her depiction in the latest episode of South Park, calling it sexist and “so lazy.”
In the episode, which aired Wednesday, Noem’s animated counterpart is shown on a bizarre spree repeatedly killing puppies while her makeup team struggles to maintain her heavily botoxed appearance. The satirical storyline references her autobiography, in which she recounts killing a dog in anger, and her well-publicized image overhaul often dubbed a “MAGA makeover.”
Speaking to CNN, Noem said the portrayal focused on mocking her physical appearance rather than her job performance. “It’s so lazy, it constantly makes fun of women for how they look. Only the liberals and the extremists do that,” she told the network. “If they wanted to criticize my job, go ahead and do that, but clearly they can’t. They just pick something petty like that.”
The South Park episode extends the parody beyond the main plot, showing Noem’s character killing Krypto, Superman’s dog, before ending with a scene of her entering a pet store armed with a rifle.
While Noem did not object to the fictionalized violent acts in the show, she took issue with what she perceived as gender-based ridicule. The depiction has sparked debate online, with supporters defending the satire as fair game and critics arguing it crossed a line into sexism.
South Park, known for its irreverent takes on political and cultural figures, has not publicly responded to Noem’s comments.
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