“South Park” creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker recently spoke to The New York Times about their decision to turn the latest episodes of their Comedy Central series into full blown Donald Trump takedowns. The show has been criticizing MAGA nonstop in seasons 27 and 28, which started airing in late July. In various episodes, “South Park” has depicted Donald Trump having sex with Satan and getting him pregnant, a plastic-surgery ravaged Kristi Noem shooting puppies and FCC chairman Brendan Carr haunting the White House as the East Wing gets demolished, among many other MAGA critiques.
“It’s not that we got all political. It’s that politics became pop culture,” Parker told The Times, noting that regular conversations took place about returning “South Park” to its usual hijinks but “there’s no getting away from [MAGA].”
“It’s like the government is just in your face everywhere you look,” Parker explained. “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.”
Stone said the show has always sought out “new taboos” when deciding what to parody in its episodes, adding: “Trey and I are attracted to that like flies to honey. Oh, that’s where the taboo is? Over there? Ok, then we’re over there.”
The creators always knew their first episode of Season 27 in July would target Donald Trump because “we just had to show our independence somehow,” Parker said. But nearly every episode since has followed suit. The duo are adamant this has always been the spirit of “South Park.”
“We’re just very down-the-middle guys,” Parker said. “Any extremists of any kind we make fun of. We did it for years with the woke thing. That was hilarious to us. And this is hilarious to us.”
A spokesperson for the White House has slammed the latest episodes for mocking Trump, saying in a statement after the Season 27 premiere in July that “South Park” has “no authentic or original content, which is why their popularity continues to hit record lows.”
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“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,” the statement continued. “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.”
Perhaps what’s been most shocking about “South Park” this season is that it’s been taking aim at MAGA amid David Ellison’s takeover of Comedy Central’s parent company Paramount. The studio’s new owner has been forging ties with Trump while “South Park” mocks him. Stone told The Times that Ellison and the new Paramount owners remain hands-off when it comes to “South Park,” at least for now.
“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,” Stone said.
Plus, both “South Park” creators are well aware that the show will not always have episodes that are anti-MAGA. Wherever the culture goes, “South Park” will go.
“You know, next year will be different,” Parker said. “If there’s one thing we know, it is that our show will be a lot longer than [Trump’s administration]. So, we just got to do this for now.”
“South Park” continues airing its 28th season through Dec. 10.
From Variety US