Copyright Screen Rant
South Park season 28 has sparked considerable controversy online due to its ongoing gag of U.S. President Donald Trump, but the creators have finally explained why. In an interview with The New York Times, creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker have broken down why they have made politics the forefront of their latest season. Parker explained, "It’s not that we got all political. It’s that politics became pop culture." He continued and added: "It’s like the government is just in your face everywhere you look. 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 adult animated series is satire and usually homes in on the latest controversy, scandal, and taboos. Stone stated, "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 latest news stories involving Trump and the MAGA movement have been at the forefront of South Park as a result. South Park follows four young schoolchildren, Eric, Stan, Kyle, and Kenny, as they embark on wild and wacky adventures involving the residents of the Colorado town of South Park. The series began in 1997 and is one of the most successful animated series in television history. Since Stone and Parker have focused their efforts on mocking the current political climate, the series has had a resurgence with some of the biggest ratings and never-ending headlines, including comments from the President himself. The show’s ratings are more than double those in 2023. The change in plotlines comes after South Park creators signed a major five-year streaming rights deal with Paramount valued at around $1.5 billion, and guarantees 50 new episodes, which equate to 10 episodes per year. Paramount has been involved in controversy this year, including canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert following his public criticism of Paramount giving President Trump $16 million in a settlement, stating it was due to financial reasons. Seasons 27 and 28 have involved Trump as well as a lot of his cabinet, even including the late political commentator Charlie Kirk, as the character Eric used to impersonate him. Trump was shown in the first episode of season 27 having relations with Satan, and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was seen killing puppies and leading ICE in another episode. Despite the controversial takes, Stone and Parker continue to mock the current political climate and are still raising their viewership. Stone was adamant they wanted "to show our independence somehow." The White House published a statement in July that read, "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."
