The New Cancel Culture

So, defunding medicaid, foreign aid, medical research, disability assistance, libraries, public schools, state parks, government workers, ethics, and diversity wasn't enough? You had to go after Big Bird, you sick fucks? Hey everyone, welcome to the new cancel culture, courtesy of the Republican Red Caps.

Black and white newspaper-style illustration of sad Big Bird being marched to the gallows by politicians in red hats, while Mr. Snuffleupagus watches in despair from the other side of the wall. — Digital Pen and Ink Illustration by Dennis Kardys using Procreate, adapting a newspaper illustration from 1877 depicting condemned Molly Maguires marching to the gallows at the county jail in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. The Molly Maguires were a secret society of Irish immigrant coal miners in 19th-century Pennsylvania who organized to resist exploitation and oppression in the mines. Their struggle ended with a controversial trial and execution, marking them as both labor martyrs and outlaws in American history. Big Bird is a beloved figure that transcends time. A possibly fictitious* avian anomaly, Big Bird has resided on Sesame Street (a culturally diverse inner-city neighborhood rumored to be in Manhattan) since 1969. BB and others are victims of attacks against inclusion and equality.

In this reimagining of an 1870s depiction of the Molly Maguires’ execution, Big Bird stands in for the values of public education, empathy, and childhood innocence—now under threat. Led to his symbolic death by religious fanatics and officials, some marked by red hats and others masked as ICE agents, the piece critiques contemporary policies that defund public broadcasting and suppress vulnerable communities. Big Bird wears a tie, because Big Bird has manners. In the background, a mournful Snuffleupagus bears witness from the other side of the wall, unseen by those in power. The question is not just whether Big Bird can die, but whether we’re complicit in letting what he represents be destroyed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Big Bird real?

Big Bird is a muppet and also a symbolic icon. Although obnoxious in appearance, Big Bird is a child proxy, a character who experiences the world with openness, confusion, wonder, and learning just like all of us. In this sense, Big Bird is as real (if not more so) than other people we see or read about in politics and the media. So yes, Big Bird is real, asshole.

Will Big Bird die?

Big Bird dies when our society no longer believes in the values Big Bird extolls—curiosity, kindness, and compassion. He dies when public institutions are defunded, when empathy is mocked, and when childhood education is devalued.

Like to color?

Download this artwork in black and white, and give it to your kids!

Posted July 18, 2025