Explained: Why did South Park’s Season 27 Trump-themed premiere cause such a firestorm?

The creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, made a bold return with the Season 27 premiere, taking aim at both their network’s parent company, Paramount, and US President Donald Trump. Known for sharp satire, the episode mixes humour and controversy once again, sparking strong reactions from fans and critics alike.

The latest South Park episode premiered just days after Trey Parker and Matt Stone struck a major $1.5 billion deal with Paramount. Under this agreement, their company, Park County, will produce 50 new episodes over the next five years, and the entire series will stream exclusively on Paramount+. Previously, South Park was available on HBO Max until that deal expired in June, according to CNN.

However, the negotiations were far from smooth. Park County’s lawyers accused Jeff Shell, Paramount’s incoming president if the Skydance merger goes through. of meddling in talks with other potential buyers like Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery. Adding to the friction, Parker and Stone publicly criticised Paramount on social media after the Season 27 premiere was delayed by two weeks.

The episode’s storyline centers on the supposed “end of wokeness” and a lawsuit where a Trump-like figure sues the town of South Park. The show also cleverly references corporate drama behind the scenes, highlighting Paramount’s ongoing sale and its impact on the show’s production, referring to Stephen Colbert's show being cancelled too. Furthermore, the show includes a provocative scene portraying the Trump character in a compromising moment with a fictionalised version of Satan, continuing the show's tradition of dark and exaggerated satire.

True to form, the episode portrays the Trump character as an aggressive figure who threatens lawsuits and tariffs to get his way.

White House Assistant Press Secretary Taylor Rogers responded to the South Park episode on Thursday, criticising both the show's content and its reception by some viewers on the political left.

“The Left’s hypocrisy truly has no end — for years, they have come after South Park for what they labeled as ‘offense’ [sic] content, but suddenly they are praising the show,” Rogers said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “Just like the creators of South Park, the Left has no authentic or original content, which is why their popularity continues to hit record lows. 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.”

Since its debut in 2000, South Park has never backed down from controversy. From tackling politics and religion to pushing boundaries on sensitive topics, it has been both celebrated and criticised for its provocative style. Recently, the creators expressed frustration over the merger of Paramount and Skydance Media, calling it disruptive for the show’s future.