Kenman

Kenman is the slash ship between Eric Cartman and Kenny McCormick from the South Park fandom.

Canon
Eric and Kenny's friendship is implied in the show. While it is not as apparent as a friendship such as Stan and Kyle's, Kenny and Eric do have their moments where it's clear they care for one and other.

There has been occasions where Cartman claims to have a dislike for Kenny, mainly due to his poorness. Cartman constantly mocks him for being poor, which Kenny usually gets mad at but doesn't do anything about it. In the episode, 'Jakovasaurs', Cartman sings a song about how much he hates his friends. He says, "I hate you guys - You guys are assholes - Especially Kenny - I hate him the most!" While this teasing does irritate Kenny, it has never been anything other than Cartman ripping on Kenny in a way that feels non-genuine and rather playful, in a Cartman way.

It is possible that Cartman's only real friend Kenny according to the fact that he does not know how to respond to Kenny's compassion for him. Unlike Stan and Kyle, who claim to not 'give a rats ass about Kenny', Cartman never had stated that he genuinely doesn't care for Kenny.

In the episode, 'Kenny Dies', Eric confesses to Kenny that he always saw him as his best friend like how Stan was to Kyle. Kenny sets his hand on Cartman's shoulder and says the same. Cartman is distraught by Kenny's death and even cries outside of Kenny's room. Though, this could all be an act considering Cartman used the Stem Cell research to build his own Shakey's. The issue is that Cartman really had no exact reason to act this way, which could imply that he meant what he said.

This is supported by some other occurrences between the two such as in the episode, 'A Song of Ass and Fire', Eric has a photo of him and Kenny at Casa Bonita, side hugging and smiling. Also, Kenny explains that he doesn't like Eric but understands that he is alone because no one else does and leaves him his Sony PSP out of pity in the episode 'Best Friends Forever'. In that same episode it is revealed that the two wear matching Best Friend Forever necklaces, which form a heart when the two pieces are put together.

It is implied numerous times in the continuity of the series that Cartman is the only one in South Park that remembers Kenny's deaths. During Season 6, he acts as if he suddenly gets possessed at times by Kenny. In the episode, 'Pinkeye', Cartman is the only one who sobs over Kenny's death. Cartman swears that Kenny dies all the time, but usually no one believe him.

In season 26, episode 5, Kenny and Cartman open DikinBaus together and spend the episode as a team in marketing, exploiting Butters for their gain. Despite it being for a poor reason, these two worked together and seemed to enjoy each other's company.

Fanon
Kenman is a fairly popular ship among older fans due to content existing for the ship dating back all the way to around the 2000s. Most reactions to the ship were positive, whether it was a platonic or romantic ship. Fans agree that this is one of the only Cartman ships that technically aren't toxic.

In the recent rise of South Park fans off of Tiktok, this ship has become a small topic of controversy due to the movement that "Cartman shouldn't be shipped with anyone" even though this ship is not harming to either parties. Despite this, fans of this ship continue to make content of it to their best ability.

Fandom
FAN FICTION