By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Following a “lazy” and “petty” parody of her on *South Park*, Kristi Noem criticized the show for its depiction of women. The portrayal included Noem as an ICE agent, which came after ICE used the show to promote their recruitment efforts. This controversy comes after South Park’s latest season premiere taking aim at the Trump administration and drew considerable attention and viewership.
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‘Petty’: ICE Barbie Breaks Silence on ‘South Park’ Portrayal
So, the news cycle is buzzing, and it seems “South Park” has struck a nerve, specifically with the individual that the show satirized as “ICE Barbie.” The main point that resonates is that she’s calling the portrayal “petty,” which, frankly, is the first thought that springs to mind. This wasn’t just a lighthearted jab; the show depicted her as someone obsessed with appearances, a puppy murderer, and seemingly okay with arresting anyone who looked Hispanic. It’s a potent mix, and apparently, it got under her skin.
Her response, as it has been pointed out, focused on the criticism of her appearance, specifically the depiction of her face melting, which is a little curious, don’t you think? One of the major things that came out of the episode was not mentioning anything about the dog killing, nor the implications of the real-life person’s alleged actions regarding the implication that ICE was trafficking young girls to Mar-a-lago. It seems a bit odd to focus on the cosmetic surgery jokes while seemingly ignoring the more serious allegations. It’s as if she’s missing the forest for the Botox trees. Is it lazy to focus on a woman’s appearance? Sure, but the show has also made a statement that the actual person involved is an immoral, cruel woman. Also, the whole thing feels so ironic.
Apparently, she claims not to have even watched the episode, which is the standard denial maneuver employed by many people, including politicians, caught in a bind. The whole “I was going over budget numbers” excuse sounds incredibly familiar, almost like a common trope for those trying to escape accountability. It’s hard to believe she hasn’t at least heard about it, given the show’s ubiquity and the ensuing media buzz. The episode likely made her angry and embarrassed, which is exactly the point of a satire, isn’t it? The silence around the more troubling aspects of the depiction seems to suggest that the visual jabs, the “melting face”, were the most damaging.
One of the comments really hit the nail on the head by saying that this is what makes them tune in each week like a hardcore fan. The show clearly got to her. You can see it in her reaction, in her need to defend herself, to make it a priority to publicly rush to her own defense. It’s almost as if they’re giving the show more power than it deserves by reacting so strongly. If the show was truly “irrelevant”, as some have claimed, wouldn’t the best approach be to simply ignore it?
Of course, it’s also been pointed out that this individual is certainly not shy about making disparaging remarks about people based on their appearance. Her response seems tone deaf. Apparently, this person’s boss has done the same thing. You can’t really criticize a show for doing something that your political and professional colleagues do on a regular basis. There’s a disconnect there.
It’s worth noting that the criticism from the individual seems to focus on the aesthetics, the “petty” stuff, while seemingly glossing over the more serious allegations, like the portrayal of ICE activity. The focus on the cosmetic surgery jokes, the face-melting, and the puppy murder are important. The show made some powerful implications. Maybe it’s more difficult to respond to those elements. Also, as has been mentioned, the irony is palpable when someone who is accused of being complicit in, or condoning, harmful actions calls something “petty.”
The “lazy” comment is a pretty common phrase, like the one used in the past. The response seems disingenuous, and a little sad. The focus is about the face but not the things she is being criticized for. If you’re going to be upset about a cartoon making fun of you, maybe it’s time to re-evaluate your actions.
All in all, the whole situation is a good example of how satire works. It pokes, it prods, and sometimes, it gets a reaction. Whether that reaction is a full-blown meltdown or a carefully crafted statement, it confirms that the show has hit its mark. And in this case, the “petty” response, the focus on the superficial, only seems to highlight the deeper issues at play.