‘South Park’ Slams LeBron James Over China Comments

When South Park is on a roll, they’re really on a roll. After criticizing the Chinese government and American complacence with Chinese censorship for two episodes in a row, “Let Them Eat Goo” hit this season’s favorite theme again. Only this time South Park wasn’t mocking China itself, but NBA superstar LeBron James.

On its face “Let Them Eat Goo” is all about mocking sustainability, garbage American food, and Burger King’s Impossible Whopper. While the rest of South Park gets on the eating sustainably bandwagon, Cartman pitches a fit. The last thing he wants is for his gross, trash cafeteria food to get healthier. This naturally leads to a standoff at South Park Elementary between the heart attack-prone Cartman and literally everyone else. But it’s only after one of the students defends their right to protest that the LeBron burn emerges.

“Yes, we do have freedom of speech, but at times there are ramifications for the negative that can happen when you are not thinking about others and only thinking about yourself!” Cartman screams. He then almost has another heart attack in the midst of his anger.

That line is a direct quote from James, and it’s as cringe-worthy as Cartman makes it seem. Earlier this week Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey sent a tweet supporting the pro-democracy protestors in Hong Kong. That tweet sparked a tidal wave of backlash in China, resulting in the government canceling television coverage of exhibition games. In turn the NBA called the statement “regrettable,” which led to backlash from U.S. fans and politicians.

So how does this connect to one of the greatest basketball players of our time? In the midst of the controversy, James was asked about Morey’s tweet. He was quickly criticized for appearing to side with the league.

“I don’t want to get into a word or sentence feud with Daryl Morey, but I believe he wasn’t educated on the situation at hand, and he spoke, and so many people could have been harmed, not only financially, but physically. Emotionally. Spiritually,” James said to Silver Screen and Roll. “So just be careful what we tweet and what we say, and what we do. Even though yes, we do have freedom of speech, but there can be a lot of negative that comes with that too.”

Oh, and to make the comparison even more obvious Episode 4 featured Cartman doing a dance for Taco Tuesday. James is so into tacos he tried to trademark Taco Tuesday earlier this year.

Any character on South Park mocking you is rough. But to have your stand-in be Eric Cartman, a hateful and cruel little boy who once fed a guy his own parents? Yeah, that’s a big middle finger.

New episodes of South Park premiere on Comedy Central Wednesdays at 10/9c.

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