The creators of the South Park cartoon series are unrepentant about a new episode that shows Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin attending a party in Hell with a stingray barb protruding from his chest.

Irwin died just eight weeks ago when a stingray barb pierced his heart as he was filming off the north Queensland coast.

The South Park episode, which had been scheduled for broadcast in the US on Wednesday, is expected to upset Irwin fans and his family - wife Terri and children Bindi and Bob.