Garfield’s Shocking Shrek Lobotomy Comic Strip Sparks Nationwide Outrage
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January 29, 2025
A controversial new Garfield comic strip published this week has ignited a firestorm of backlash, with critics calling it “disturbing,” “irresponsible,” and “a national disgrace.” The four-panel strip, which ran in newspapers across the country, depicts the lasagna-loving feline performing an impromptu lobotomy on beloved animated character Shrek. The scene, played for dark comedy, has provoked outrage from mental health professionals, politicians, and the general public.
Trump: ‘This Is a New Low’
President Donald Trump weighed in on the controversy, denouncing the strip in a lengthy post on Truth Social.
“This is what happens when you let the radical left destroy culture—total disrespect for our beloved characters! First, they went after Dr. Seuss, and now they’re mutilating Shrek. Very sad! Jim Davis should be ashamed, and the FAKE NEWS is treating this like it’s okay! DISGRACEFUL!!!”
Trump’s reaction has been echoed by conservative commentators, who argue that the comic strip promotes violence and mocks serious mental health conditions.
Mental Health Experts Condemn the Strip
Leading mental health professionals have also expressed concern over the comic’s message. Dr. Amanda Holtz, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins University, criticized the depiction of lobotomies as humor.
“This comic is profoundly irresponsible. Lobotomies were a tragic chapter in medical history, used to silence and disable people with mental illness. Portraying it as a joke in a mainstream comic strip is not only tasteless but harmful,” Dr. Holtz told CNN.
Dr. Raj Patel, a neuroscientist at Stanford, added that the comic “perpetuates outdated and dangerous misconceptions about mental health treatment” and worries that younger audiences might be disturbed by the imagery.
Jim Davis Stands by His Work
Despite the backlash, Garfield creator Jim Davis remains unapologetic. In a statement to the press, Davis dismissed the controversy as “overblown.”
“People need to relax. It’s a comic strip. Garfield has been putting people through all kinds of nonsense for decades. If people can’t handle a little absurdist humor, that’s their problem. I have no regrets.”
Public Divided on the Controversy
While many are outraged, some have defended the comic as edgy satire. Online, the strip has gone viral, with some fans creating memes and alternate versions featuring other characters undergoing Garfield-administered lobotomies. The hashtag #GarfieldLobotomy has trended on social media, with both critics and supporters voicing strong opinions.
Meanwhile, DreamWorks Animation, which owns the Shrek franchise, has yet to comment on whether they will take legal action against Davis or Garfield publisher Andrews McMeel Syndication.
For now, Garfield remains unfazed, and as his creator might put it—he still doesn’t care for Mondays.
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