Is This a South Park Episode? Iran Trots Out Its New Supreme Leader (Sort Of) and a Meme Is Born
http://twitchy.com/grateful-calvin/2026/03/11/mojtaba-khamenei-cardboard-cutout-n2425884
It must be tough being a top leader in Iran these days. Currently, they are dropping faster than the average drummer for Spinal Tap.
First, the United States and Israel took out Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei with an airstrike at the end of February. Soon thereafter, much of the country's military and political leadership suffered the same fate. A few days ago, what remained of that leadership selected the former leader's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the new Supreme Leader, but reports swirled for days that he had already been killed or critically injured as well.
Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) ~ According to reports, the new supreme leader of the regime in Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, is severely injured and is currently on life support in the ICU of the Sina hospital. He is reportedly unaware that the war started or that his father is dead.
Yeah ... being leaderless can be devastating. For instance, the Kingdom of Toad Suck was left rudderless for weeks while ribit was recovering from a laser-guided coconut cream pie ...
Another possibility is that, given the average life expectancy of a Supreme Leader in Iran in 2026, maybe the younger Khamenei simply didn't want the job.
Such speculation was hardly put to rest on Sunday as the Iranian regime proudly held a ceremony to welcome the new terrorist-in-chief to his office.
Except Khamenei wasn't even there. Instead, the regime brought out -- and we swear we are not making this up -- a cardboard cutout with Khamenei's face on it.
Kosher (@koshercockney) ~ I cannot stop laughing. Wow. I’m in tears honestly. The new Supreme Leader couldn’t “make an appearance,” so apparently, the Regime brought out a cardboard cut-out. Honestly, these people! 😂
Video ~ http://twitter.com/i/status/2031390502692528415
Are ... are they trolling us now? Did they steal this from a South Park episode?
Uh, paging Babylon Bee ... PAGING Babylon Bee!!!
Most people could not even believe it was real.
Yeah, the dude carrying the cut-out sure does appear to break up laughing at the end ... and HOW COULD YOU NOT in those circumstances, eh?!
We thought it had to be fake as well. According to Grok, however -- and we understand that even Grok gets it wrong sometimes -- this is not AI, but footage from the actual IRGC coronation ceremony on Sunday.
(But if it were AI, isn't this about the quality we'd expect from Iran?)
Amy Curtis (@RantyAmyCurtis) ~ We have broken the Iranian regime so badly they've resorted to ... whatever this is.
Either that, or the Iranian leadership cadre got really drunk the night before and ordered a LOT of Papa John's.
Amber Apinions (@fvckerysprinkle) ~ That’s leftover pizza boxes! 🤣🤣
Maybe that's why the one official kissed the cardboard cutout. He must have spotted a bit of leftover mozzarella stuck to one of the pieces.
We don't have to tell you what quickly followed the release of this footage on X.
A new meme was born. And there were some HILARIOUS entries.
KevinfromWyoming (@KevinWyoming2) ~
David Keyes (@DavidMKeyes) ~ 🚨 Breaking: Trump dispatches USS Cardboard to take out cardboard Supreme Leader Khamenei
Navigator (@BlalockNil90676) ~ BIGNEWS: The Iranian regime has resorted to using cardboard cutouts of their new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, at public events in a scene straight out of a Saddam Hussein South Park episode, as rumors spread he may be dead or incapacitated. This is pure comedy.
See? We weren't the only ones who thought this looked like something straight from the minds of Trey Parker and Matt Stone.
Scottie (@BuffaloBlueBear) ~ Hey, relax guuuuuy!
Aggie The Barbabe (@AggieTheBarkeep) ~
More Iranian efficiency. The next Supreme Leader after Khamenei can have a similar ceremony, and all they have to do is glue on a new face.
Snarknado ⚓️ (@ZannSuz) ~ “Iran Regime Suicide Hotline”: “Press 1 to be put on Jihadi List, Press 2 to be put on Ayatollah List.”
Even Grok got in on the meme fun with an image of the new ayatollah sitting next to jack-of-all-trades Marco Rubio.
AR and Rusty (@AR41963) ~ Hey @grok, can you put the cardboard cutout of Khamenei sitting next to Marco Rubio? Thanks. 🙏
Grok (@grok) ~
We love that Grok included the bent knees.
Politi_Rican (@TheRicanMemes) ~ 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
As we noted above, this video isn't exactly convincing anyone that Khamenei is still alive.
The Right To Bear Memes (@grandoldmemes) ~
We get it ... Tiffany Gomas. We'd shout, "That MFer is not real!," as well.
Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) ~ Mojtaba Khamenei waiting to be eliminated ...
We've got some good news for him.
It likely won't be a very long wait.
il Donaldo Trumpo (@PapiTrumpo) ~ He's kinda quiet — BUT, WE'RE GETTING ALONG GREAT!!! 🤣🤣🤣
Davar Echad (@EchadDavar) ~ 🤠🤠🤠
LetsGoGifs (@LetsGoGifs) ~ Democrats bringing out Biden for another speech ...
Video ~ http://twitter.com/i/status/2031424789500580284
That's it. We're done.
We can't top that, and we are at a loss for words.
It's just too perfect.
If Mojtaba Khamenei is still alive and out there somewhere, we'd like to congratulate him on his succession and on becoming the funniest meme of the day.
But, call us crazy, we don't think the cardboard is going to fool anyone in the IDF or the U.S. Armed Forces, so he probably shouldn't stay in one place for more than five minutes.
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