At San Diego Comic-Con, South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone responded to the backlash surrounding the show’s season 27 premiere, which aired earlier in the week on Comedy Central.
The episode featured a provocative depiction of former President Donald Trump, including a surreal deepfake PSA scene, jokes about his anatomy, and a sequence involving Satan, prompting criticism from political circles and media commentators.
Earlier the same day, the White House issued an official response condemning the episode’s tone.
“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,” said White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers.
At the Comic-Con panel, Parker deadpanned, “We’re terribly sorry,” adding that Comedy Central had requested censorship of the mikropenis gag.
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‘South Park’ creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone kept it short and sweet with their deadpan response to the reaction over last night’s very topical Season 27 premiere | #SDCC 2025 pic.twitter.com/vccHPfjhkz
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Instead, Parker said he chose to “put eyes on the penis” to satisfy standards while preserving the visual joke.
The controversy follows Parker and Stone’s recent $1.5 billion deal with Paramount, sparking speculation that creative tensions with the network influenced the episode’s direction.
The duo confirmed the episode was completed just days before airing, consistent with the show's rapid-response production style.
Despite the outcry, the episode generated high engagement online, with fans defending its satire and trademark irreverence.
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