‘South Park' Vs. Donald Trump—The Controversial Episode, Explained
South Park roared back into relevancy with the show's season 27 premiere, mocking President Donald Trump, seemingly daring the president to sue the show.
Clips from the premiere quickly spread through social media, with the show's signature crude humor proving a hit—many were satisfied to see schoolyard taunts used against a president known for punching down.
South Park's season 27 premiere sees Cartman lament the death of 'woke' culture, as the rise of reactionary sentiment ripples through the quiet mountain town.
Normally, South Park pushes back against political correctness, but this time, show creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone seem to think the pendulum has swung too far in the other direction.
PC Principal, the show's signature social justice warrior, has become a born-again Christian who has invited Jesus Christ himself into the school, much to the dismay of the parents.
Amusingly, Cartman has found himself alienated by so-called 'death of woke,' as he no longer feels like a rebel against polite society—now, he's just another edgelord.
Mr. Garrison, the show's warped version of Donald Trump, has been replaced by a far more direct parody, based on the show's old caricature of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein— South Park's new Trump proudly parades his naked body in the White House, complete with comically undersized genitalia.
This version of Trump is a lawsuit-happy hedonist who is literally in bed with Satan (in South Park , Satan is something of a lost soul, often ending up in abusive relationships).
When the parents of South Park push back against Trump, complaining about the rise of religion in the classroom, Jesus warns them to drop it, and hints that the show might be cancelled, whispering, 'You really want to end up like Colbert?'
Jesus also makes a reference to a 'lawsuit and an agreement with Paramount,' seemingly a reference to Paramount's $16 million settlement with Donald Trump.
As Trump waltzes around South Park , threatening to sue in response to every single criticism, the episode feels very much like Parker and Stone trying to provoke President Trump into legal action.
The episode ends with a satirical PSA featuring a realistic, seemingly AI-generated version of Trump wandering the desert, before stripping down and revealing his small penis, which then talks directly to the camera.
Parker and Stone have since revealed that the network had 'notes' for the provocative episode, and that there was serious disagreement over Trump's genitalia, with the network wanting his penis blurred.
Stone, however, insisted that the penis stay in focus, and ended up getting his way after adding eyeballs to the diminutive organ, arguing that the network couldn't blur the penis because it was a 'character.' Did The White House React To 'South Park'?
While there was no social media post from Trump, the White House was provoked into a reaction, with Trump's spokesperson Taylor delivering a statement:
'The Left's hypocrisy truly has no end—for years they have come after South Park for what they labeled as 'offensive' content, but suddenly, they are praising the show.'
Rogers went on to dismiss South Park , stating, 'This show hasn't been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention.'
As this was only the premiere, it's likely that the show will continue to mercilessly mock Trump—Parker and Stone have always been willing to push boundaries. MORE FROM FORBES Forbes What Is 'Squid Game' Season 3 Really About? By Dani Di Placido Forbes What Is The 'Gen Z Stare'? The TikTok Debate, Explained By Dani Di Placido Forbes How 'JD Vance Edit' Memes Broke The Internet By Dani Di Placido Forbes The Optimistic Ending Of 'Superman,' Explained By Dani Di Placido
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Katy Perry brings pop spectacle to Detroit, prays aloud after fan medical incident onstage
Katy Perry didn't wait long Sunday night to get the wacky performance high jinks going at Little Caesars Arena. Lifted high above her figure-eight stage, ensconced in a rig of illuminated hoops and wired up like an android, the pop star kicked off what promised to be a two-hour fun ride for an adoring Detroit audience. Still, there was one scary moment 80 minutes into the show, instantly bringing the arena to a hush: A young fan invited onstage for a sing-along segment abruptly collapsed as Perry prepared to launch into song. The girl, who looked to be in her early teens, appeared overwhelmed from the moment she walked to the stage, when she broke into tears and wrapped her arms around the star in a long embrace. As security and medical staffers rushed up after her collapse, Perry kicked into mom mode, crouching down and offering words of encouragement. The fan was ultimately joined by her mother and treated at the backstage first aid area, a show official told the Free Press, though no further updates were available late Sunday. Onstage, Perry rounded up three other young fans in a group hug and offered a prayer for the ailing girl. Perry, now 40 and mother of a 4-year-old daughter, was making her first Detroit visit in eight years as part of her global Lifetimes Tour. Which means — by a rough eyeball estimate — about 20% of Sunday's crowd wasn't yet born the last time she played LCA. It was clear the millennials who made up the pop star's early KatyCats fandom were now back with their own kids in tow, many of them attired in sparkly outfits and song-inspired costumes. Perry arrived at LCA at a seeming career crossroads, with a much-maligned new album and naysayers arguing she's in need a musical refresh. Early videos from the tour had zeroed in on her clunky moves and jumping-jack dances. Her stature at the forefront of the pop zeitgeist increasingly appeared locked in a 2015 time capsule. But Perry's performance Sunday was infectious, bold and unapologetic — by no means the cringeworthy disaster it was painted as when those viral clips made her an internet punching bag this spring. Silliness has long been part of the Katy Perry shtick, sharing equal billing with her soaring choruses and upbeat affirmations. And so taken on its own terms – a pop concert initiation for young fans – Sunday's show was a perfectly fine arena spectacle. 'They can say what they want to say,' Perry told the crowd during a late-show performance of 'Part of Me,' which included her go at twerking. 'But this is who I am.' It was a night of metal contraptions, high-flying adventures over the crowd, cartoonishly oversized props and cyberpunk imagery with a whimsical flavor. The concert unfolded with Perry as a character stepping up levels in a live-action video game. Sure, she's no virtuoso on the dance and choreography front, with moves that owe more to jazzercise than to Janet Jackson. But her 10-man backing troupe was there to pick up that slack, leaving room for Perry to do her main thing — like battling a masked ninja with a two-sided lightsaber, as she did on 'E.T.' She spent plenty of time up in the air: 'Roar' had her riding overhead on a giant butterfly, 'Nirvana' was a high-flying moment in a Pink-style harness, 'I Kissed a Girl' raised her up in a scaffolded globe. Songs from last year's '143' album were heavily sprinkled among the old hits most fans had flocked to LCA to hear. 'Dark Horse' was the night's first big crowd igniter, part of a litany of signature smashes that included 'California Gurls,' 'Teenage Dream,' 'Hot n Cold,' 'Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)' and a souped-up EDM rendition of 'Wide Awake.' The anthemic stuff came late in the set, as 'Part of Me,' 'Rise' and 'Roar' built to Perry's requisite climactic moment: a rousing closing performance of 'Firework.' Contact Detroit Free Press music writer Brian McCollum: 313-223-4450 or bmccollum@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Katy Perry brings pop spectacle to Detroit, prays after fan medical event Solve the daily Crossword
CNN
8 minutes ago
- CNN
Trump calls Sweeney's American Eagle ad ‘fantastic'
Trump calls Sweeney's American Eagle ad 'fantastic' President Donald Trump praised Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle jeans ad on Sunday, telling reporters that it is 'fantastic' after finding out that the actress was a registered Republican. Sweeney registered with the Republican Party in Florida on June 16, 2024, prior to November's presidential election, according to Florida voter registration records. 00:49 - Source: CNN Vertical Trending Now 16 videos Trump calls Sweeney's American Eagle ad 'fantastic' President Donald Trump praised Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle jeans ad on Sunday, telling reporters that it is 'fantastic' after finding out that the actress was a registered Republican. Sweeney registered with the Republican Party in Florida on June 16, 2024, prior to November's presidential election, according to Florida voter registration records. 00:49 - Source: CNN Justin Trudeau sings 'Firework' at Katy Perry concert Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was seen singing and dancing at a Katy Perry concert in Montreal in late July. Two days earlier, Trudeau and Perry were seen having dinner together, sparking dating rumors across social media. 00:59 - Source: CNN New research reveals origin of potatoes Scientists traced the lineage of potatoes to a wild genetic fusion about 9 million years ago between a tomato ancestor and a tuberless plant. 01:04 - Source: CNN Blake Lively to be deposed against Justin Baldoni Blake Lively is set to be deposed Thursday in her legal battle against Justin Baldoni. 00:24 - Source: CNN Amusement park ride splits in half in Saudi Arabia At least 23 people were injured, three of them critically, when a fairground ride buckled in Saudi Arabia, sending passengers crashing to the ground, according to state media. 00:33 - Source: CNN Dozens injured on Delta flight Severe turbulence struck a Delta flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam Wednesday, causing service carts and unbelted passengers to hit the ceiling and forcing an emergency landing in Minnesota, where 25 people on board were taken to hospitals. 01:01 - Source: CNN Arrest made in Arkansas hiking murders A man has been arrested in connection with the deaths of a married couple attacked and killed while hiking with their two young daughters at a state park in the Ozark Mountains, according to the Arkansas State Police. 00:45 - Source: CNN Crypto attack on OnlyFans streamer caught on camera Several crypto investors, including streamer and content creator Kaitlyn 'Amouranth' Siragusa, have been targeted in a series of violent attacks by gangs attempting to access their crypto wallets. Blockchain intelligence firms believe that the perceived anonymity and irreversibility of crypto transactions make investors an attractive target. 02:05 - Source: CNN High Noon recalls vodka seltzer mislabeled as Celsius High Noon has issued a voluntary recall after mislabeling some of its vodka seltzer as Celsius energy drinks. The FDA says no adverse events or illnesses have been reported. 00:55 - Source: CNN Jet2 holiday singer speaks out after White House uses meme British singer Jess Glynne responded to the White House's decision to use the viral TikTok sound, which includes her 2015 song "Hold My Hand" and Jet2's commercial. Glynne criticized the White House for using the audio to show the ongoing mass deportations in the United States. 01:10 - Source: CNN Fans pay tribute as emotional Sharon Osbourne lays flowers at Ozzy memorial Thousands of fans paid their respects to Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne as his hearse made its way through the streets of Birmingham, the English city where he grew up and where the band was formed in 1968. Osbourne died last Tuesday at the age of 76. 00:46 - Source: CNN Shannon Sharpe out at ESPN after settling sexual assault lawsuit Former NFL star Shannon Sharpe, who has been one of the faces of ESPN's morning sports debate show 'First Take,' is no longer with the network, a source with knowledge of the situation told CNN. 00:54 - Source: CNN Crocodile gets caught underneath moving truck A bystander captured video of a crocodile caught underneath a truck driving through high water in Australia at Kakadu National Park. 00:25 - Source: CNN Beyoncé brings out Destiny's Child during final show Beyoncé reunited Destiny's Child during her concert at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, with Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland joining her on stage to perform a medley of the group's biggest hits, as part of her final Cowboy Carter show. 00:45 - Source: CNN Gwyneth Paltrow joins Astronomer as temporary spokesperson Actress and Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow appeared in a new ad for Astronomer, the tech firm whose former CEO and human resources chief were caught in an awkward moment on a Jumbotron at a Coldplay concert last week. Paltrow is the ex-wife of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. 00:51 - Source: CNN 'South Park' skewers Trump after signing new Paramount deal In their first episode of the season, the creators of "South Park" mocked President Donald Trump and Paramount after they just signed a new $1.5 billion contract. Paramount is looking to merge with Skydance Media and needs the Trump-influenced FCC to approve the deal. 01:24 - Source: CNN
Washington Post
8 minutes ago
- Washington Post
New panda marks a birthday here for the first time
He will be 4 years old on Monday, and his birthday is to be celebrated at his home in D.C. in a way that seems relatively modest, given the great interest in him as well as his significance in such areas as world diplomacy and wildlife conservation. The party will be in the morning, at 9 a.m. — a time not usually associated with uproarious festivities.
