Despite a major corporate takeover and a politically charged environment, South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone confirm they retain complete creative freedom under Paramount’s new leadership. The duo has used their latest season to launch a relentless satirical attack on President Donald Trump and his administration, leading to a public feud with the White House and a ratings surge for the long-running show.
Creative Freedom Under New Ownership
Following the $8 billion merger that brought Skydance CEO David Ellison as Paramount’s new head, many observers expected potential censorship of South Park’s political content. However, both creators have confirmed they face no restrictions from the new ownership.
“I know with the Colbert thing and all the Trump stuff, people think certain things, but they’re letting us do whatever we want, to their credit,” Matt Stone stated, directly addressing speculation about behind-the-scenes censorship.
The situation had drawn particular attention after Paramount’s CBS network canceled The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which many believed was connected to the host’s anti-Trump humor. Despite this context, South Park has continued its uncompromising approach.
David Ellison himself praised Parker and Stone’s approach, calling them “equal opportunity offenders” and emphasizing that he does not want to politicize the company.
A Season of Political Satire
The current season of South Park has taken direct aim at the highest levels of government. The season premiere, “Sermon on the ‘Mount,” portrayed President Trump as a petulant child who sues the town of South Park. The episode included crude humor about the president’s anatomy and showed him in bed with Satan, using animation style previously reserved for Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
Later episodes have continued the political commentary, mocking Vice President J.D. Vance and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The show made fun of Noem’s looks and mocked immigration raids conducted by ICE.
The intense focus on politics represents a shift for the creators, who had previously suggested they were done with Trump satire. Parker explained their current approach: “We just had to show our independence somehow.”
White House Reaction and Public Response
The Trump administration has responded with sharp criticism of the show. White House Assistant Press Secretary Taylor Rogers dismissed South Park as “fourth-rate” and irrelevant.
“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,” Rogers stated. “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.”
Despite the White House’s dismissal, the political focus has generated a significant viewership increase. The current season has delivered some of the show’s highest ratings in roughly seven years, sparking what some are calling a mini-renaissance for the series.
Stephen Colbert, whose own show was canceled by CBS, has praised South Park’s satire. He specifically commended the show’s deepfaked PSA video of a naked Trump as “an important message of hope for our times.”
The Business Behind the Comedy
The creative decisions unfold against a backdrop of significant business developments. Just before the season premiere, Paramount announced a massive five-year deal with Parker and Stone reportedly worth $1.5 billion. The agreement includes producing 50 new episodes and grants global streaming rights to Paramount+.
This deal followed a period of public tension between the creators and Paramount during the merger negotiations. Parker and Stone had previously taken to social media to complain that the “merger is a shtshow and is fcking up South Park,” even delaying their season 27 premiere.
The streaming rights for South Park have also shifted significantly. After five years on HBO Max, the complete library of 26 seasons has now moved exclusively to Paramount+, making it the only streaming platform where fans can watch the entire series.
The Creators’ Perspective on Politics
Parker and Stone insist their approach isn’t politically motivated but rather follows where the cultural taboos and comedy opportunities lead them.
“Trey and I are attracted to that like flies to honey,” Stone said of their approach to taboo subjects. “Oh, that’s where the taboo is? Over there? OK, then we’re over there.”
Parker elaborated on their creative process: “We basically start with a song and we don’t know where the album’s going to take us.” He noted that government and politics have become unavoidable in current pop culture.
“It’s like the government is just in your face everywhere you look,” Parker observed. “Whether it’s the actual government or whether it is all the podcasters and the TikToks and the YouTubes and all of that, and it’s just all political and political because it’s more than political. It’s pop culture.”
The creators have a history of targeting both sides of the political spectrum, having spent previous seasons satirizing progressive “woke” culture. Parker teased that their focus will evolve as the cultural landscape changes, noting “If there’s one thing we know, it is that our show will be a lot longer than [Trump’s administration].”
All seasons of South Park are currently streaming on Parount+, with new episodes airing every other Wednesday.
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