Aaron McGruder revives "The Boondocks" to roast R. Kelly and Michael Jackson amid sex abuse claims

Donald Trump is also a target in a series of new "Boondocks" comic strips

Published February 7, 2019 5:00PM (EST)

Aaron McGruder (Getty/Stephen Shugerman)
Aaron McGruder (Getty/Stephen Shugerman)

This article originally appeared on IndieWire.
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Aaron McGruder has returned to the world of “The Boondocks” for the first time since wrapping the initial run of his Adult Swim series in June 2014. The creator originated “The Boondocks” as a comic strip that launched in 1996 before creating the hugely popular Adult Swim series in 2005. McGruder’s “Boondocks” revival arrives in the form of six brand new comic strips that find the characters taking on current events, from Donald Trump to the recent sexual abuse allegations against music stars R. Kelly and Michael Jackson.

“Did these for fun and to see if I still could,” McGruder wrote in a caption accompanying the comic strips, which were released on Charlemagne tha God’s Instagram account. “More to come…exactly how much more is tough to say. These strips were only possible due to the enormous talent of my good friend Seung Kim, who did the animation for the old show – and he’s a busy guy. Thanks to him and thanks to Charlamagne for putting these out for me while I get my Instagram act together.”

Read More IndieWire: Over A Decade Ago, ‘The Boondocks’ Ridiculed Everyone for Ignoring R. Kelly’s Abuse

In the comic strip tackling R. Kelly and Michael Jackson, Jebediah “Grandad” Freeman gets upset when R. Kelly’s “Ignition (Remix)” starts playing from his laptop. “Never agains will I listen to R. Kelly in this house! Delete!” the character proclaims. “Let’s try an artist with a little more moral fortitude.” Grandad then puts on Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”

Read more IndieWire: Michael Jackson Documentary ‘Leaving Neverland’ Has Park City Police on Alert

McGruder’s comic arrives in the aftermath of the debuts of “Surviving R. Kelly” and “Leaving Neverland,” new documentaries which featured interviews with the women and men who claim R. Kelly and Michael Jackson sexually abused them, respectively. “The Boondocks” went viral in the aftermath of “Surviving R. Kelly” thanks to a 2005 episode in which protagonist Huey lashed out at other characters for heroizing R. Kelly despite his history of sexual misconduct, including allegedly urinating on a girl.

Read more IndieWire: ‘Chappelle’s Show’ Co-Creator Says R. Kelly Threatened Dave Chappelle After ‘Piss On You’ Video

Check out of all of McGruder’s new “The Boondocks” comic strips below.

 

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Granddad on the #MuteRKellywave #BoondocksBack

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#BoondocksBack

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Robert Mueller vs. Uncle Ruckus #BoondocksBack

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Merry Black History Month!!! #BoondocksBack

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By Zack Sharf

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Related Topics ------------------------------------------

Aaron Mcgruder All Salon Comics Culture Indiewire Michael Jackson R. Kelly The Boondocks