South Park takes aim at Armstrong
Character seems similar to disgraced cyclist
Animated TV comedy satire South Park is taking aim at a disgraced icon who seems a lot like seven-time Tour de France winning cyclist Lance Armstrong.
In a teaser clip released Monday by Comedy Central, an episode titled A Scause for Applause shows residents of the fictional U.S. town standing in line to get their yellow wristbands removed.
While the teaser for the Oct. 31 episode does not refer to Armstrong by name, Comedy Central said it deals with “the recent news of drug use by a beloved icon” and “the world is left feeling lost and betrayed.”
Armstrong, stripped of his cy- cling titles and banned for life this month for doping, used yellow wristbands to promote his charity, Livestrong.
In the South Park episode, the news has left the town enraged and upset as foul-mouthed Eric Cartman, one of the show’s four lead children, declares, “I can’t believe we all got duped.” Hapless schoolboy Clyde Donovan yells “lying jerk” and school counsellor Mr. Mackey sobs as his bracelet is removed, saying, “I don’t know what to believe in anymore.”
Armstrong, 41, who became a hero after battling cancer to dominate the world of professional cycling, has always denied allegations of taking performanceenhancing drugs.
He was banned from the sport for life after 11 of his former team mates testified against him and the United States Anti-Doping Agency published a report alleging he had been involved in the “most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen.”
South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are known for responding quickly to current affairs and taboo subjects for their raunchy comedy show, which has become a cult hit.
They previously landed in hot water after showing late Australian wildlife expert Steve Irwin with a stingray barb in his chest less than two months after his sudden death from a stingray attack, and drawing the Muslim Prophet Muhammad dressed in a bear costume in a 2006 episode.