The conservative and Christian satire site fills an underserved market, as evidenced by the regular viral reach of its articles. One recent headline was shared more than 1 million times on social media and stirred up an unusual amount of hard feelings.

Liberal and secular satirical news outlets such as The Daily Show, Last Week Tonight with Jon Oliver, The Onion, and even Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update” segment come cheaper by the dozen these days. But there’s only one Babylon Bee.

The conservative and Christian satire site fills an underserved market, as evidenced by the regular viral reach of its articles. One recent headline was shared more than 1 million times on social media and stirred up an unusual amount of hard feelings: “Democrats Call For Flags To Be Flown At Half-Mast To Grieve Death Of Soleimani.” The Bee posted the article the same day a U.S. drone strike killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, whose forces tormented Iraqi Christians and who was said to have been planning imminent attacks on U.S. embassies.

Writer and media analyst Cindy Otis expressed concern on Twitter that some Republicans on Facebook thought the article was real, raising an angry online mob. CNN reporter Donie O’Sullivan chimed in to criticize the Bee, insinuating the site is “clickbait” and “misinformation” disguised as satire. Mainstream news outlets picked up the story. And the progressive religious magazine Relevant published a column by Jesse Carey calling the Soleimani article “problematic,” “misogynistic,” and “uniquely confusing.”

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