'South Park' Scrubbed from HBO Max This Week: Here's Why
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South Park will be leaving HBO Max after airing a provocative episode criticizing President Donald Trump and invoking a response from the White House last month.
However, the departure from HBO Max has nothing to do with its recent depiction of Trump, as it was originally scheduled as part of South Park's new deal with Paramount+ to offer the show exclusively on that platform.
Why It Matters
South Park made the news last month when it kicked off its 27th season on July 23 with an episode featuring a parody of Trump.
During the episode, Trump was mocked for suing people who have different political opinions as well as his physical appearance. It also showed Trump in a relationship with Satan.
General view of the HBO Max skyscraper billboard above the Sunset Strip promoting the Max streaming service on April 09, 2025 in West Hollywood, California.
General view of the HBO Max skyscraper billboard above the Sunset Strip promoting the Max streaming service on April 09, 2025 in West Hollywood, California.
AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
What To Know
Why is South Park Leaving HBO?
South Park's exit from HBO Max occurred on Tuesday, August 5, but it was not the result of any political issues with the show.
The satirical animation, which often pokes fun at pop culture and political events, was previously scheduled to move its library of episodes to Paramount+ under a new multiyear licensing arrangement.
Previously, HBO Max viewers had access to all of South Park's TV seasons, while Paramount allowed fans to watch event "specials."
Newsweek reached out to HBO Max for comment via email.
Donald Trump South Park Episode: What Happens in the Episode?
During the most recent Trump South Park episode, Sermon on the Mount, the president is depicted in a romantic relationship with Satan. He's also made fun of for his physical appearance and for suing people he disagrees with.
The White House issued a statement in response to the episode, saying the show "hasn't been relevant for over 20 years."
The episode was South Park's most watched season premiere since 1999, and ratings were up 68 percent over the season 26 premiere.
Kristi Noem Subject of Recent Episode
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will likely be the butt of a joke in this week's episode of South Park.
In a teaser for the upcoming episode on Wednesday, South Park shows an animated version of Noem done up with makeup and standing by an ICE vehicle, holding up her gun.
"'Got A Nut': When Mr. Mackay loses his job, he desperately tries to find a new way to make a living," South Park summarized the upcoming episode in a new post on X.
Noem, the former governor of South Dakota, has supported Trump consistently through his reelection. She also gained widespread attention when she admitted in a memoir that she shot and killed her family dog for being "untrainable."
Trump nominated Noem to serve as DHS secretary and she was confirmed by the Senate in January. Since then, Noem has implemented Trump's immigration policies, ramping up deportations of undocumented immigrants and earning the name "ICE Barbie."
Newsweek reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment via email.
What People Are Saying
White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in a statement last month: "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, … President Trump has delivered on more promises in just six months than any other president in our country's history—and no fourth-rate show can derail President Trump's hot streak."
Podcaster Joe Rogan said about the Trump episode of South Park during a July podcast: "There's so much chaos, there's so much madness. They did a Donald Trump on with Satan. It's f****** hilarious. They haven't given a f*** since the beginning, and it's the greatest show of all time."
What Happens Next
The next episode of South Park will air Wednesday, August 6 at 10 p.m. EST on Comedy Central.
Fans of the show can now also watch South Park exclusively on Paramount+.
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