AsSouth Parkseason 27 continues, the Paramount CEO has no issues with its divisive content.South Park, which has focused on topical politics since it first debuted in 1997, rarely shies away from controversy.SeveralSouth Parkepisodes have been banned, but its creators have continued targeting religion, politics, and other hot topics.
Recently, Paramount has been facing sharp criticism from the White House, as season 27 has explicitly targeted the Trump administration. The season premiered after an extended contractual battle, which eventually concluded with a $1.5 billion deal between Paramount andSouth Park. Paramount agreed to pay that immense sum in exchange for streaming rights and 50 new episodes across five years.
Despite outside concerns, CEO David Ellison believes that the intense focus on politics is nothing new for the series, according to a report byCNN. Ellison, who described himself as a fan of the show, believes that creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker are only continuing the show’s legacy as “equal opportunity offenders.” Check out his comments below:
Matt and Trey are incredibly talented. They are equal opportunity offenders and always have been.
What This Means For South Park And Paramount
Paramount recently agreed to a $16 million settlement with Trump and the White House, after Trump elected to sue60 Minutesfor alleged unfair programming. Shortly after the terms were announced, CBS elected to cancelThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert, citing financial difficulties. Naturally, viewers began speculating thatSouth Parkcould be next, given its political nature.
This statement from the Paramount CEO implies that Parker and Stone will not need to worry about cancellation. The $1.5 billion deal already ensured that it would be a poor decision by Paramount, but outright support from the CEO indicates that Paramount will likely not attempt to undermine the creators at all.
The first two episodes ofSouth Parkseason 27have already been divisive, as the show targeted Trump, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and Vice President JD Vance.There are eight episodes left in this season and five years remaining for this deal, so there should be more controversies to come given the show’s tendency to lean into politics.
Our Take On Paramount’s South Park Comments
WhileSouth Parkhas certainly taken shots at Paramount this season, any viewer of the show should be able to expect its reaction toColbert’s cancelation and current political events. The creators have never shied away from targeting controversial figures, and it has attacked both sides of the aisle, as it famously criticizedAl Gore’s climate change advocacy.
When Paramount agreed to its $1.5 billion deal, it likely expected inevitable controversy. Despite ample criticism from targeted figures, the response has led to a massive ratings spike, as the show remains the current highest-viewed series on Paramount+ by a significant margin. WhileSouth Parkmay be divisive, it should come as no surprise that Ellison is backing the show.
