“South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone recently addressed the controversial start to season 27 during a panel at San Diego Comic Con. They recounted the behind-the-scenes tussle they had with network executives over a scene featuring President Donald Trump’s anatomy in the season premiere.
During the discussion, they joined other adult cartoon creators, including Mike Judge from “Beavis and Butthead” and Andy Samberg from “Digman!”. When moderator Josh Horowitz asked Parker about the audience’s reaction to the premiere, he humorously replied, “We’re so sorry.”
Parker and Stone also lamented a recent merger affecting their show, characterizing it as a deal engineered to postpone the new season’s release. They reflected on the backlash to their episode, mentioning that the response had surprised them. Just a few days prior to the premiere, Parker noted they were uncertain about how well it would be received.
Addressing concerns from Comedy Central higher-ups about the episode, Parker humorously noted, “They said, ‘We’re going to blur his penis,’ and we said, ‘No, you’re not going to obscure it.'” They ultimately decided to keep the portrayal intact.
Notably, White House aide Taylor Rogers responded to the episode’s airing by criticizing the creators. He remarked on what he described as a double standard from the left, which had previously criticized the show but now seemed to embrace it. He emphasized that, despite its long run, “South Park” was out of touch and suggested that it wouldn’t interfere with President Trump’s ongoing achievements.
It’s interesting to see the landscape of political commentary in animated series evolving and how creators navigate these waters with, perhaps, a mix of humor and hesitance.
