The grownup cartoon South Park isn’t any stranger to controversy, and it by no means holds again punches. For this reason it is landed itself on the information numerous instances for its profanity, boundary-pushing humor, and naturally, its satirization of well-known individuals.
South Park
- Launch Date
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August 13, 1997
- Community
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Comedy Central
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Karri Turner
Liane Cartman / Wendy Testaburger / Mrs. Crabtree (voice)
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Kyle Broflovski / Kenny McCormick (voice)
From authors like George R.R. Martin to socialites like Paris Hilton and athletes comparable to Brian Boitano, South Park has parodied celebrities throughout varied backgrounds and industries. Whereas many of those well-known individuals have taken the jokes in stride, others have been lower than proud of their South Park depictions. And in some instances, they even acquired offended about episodes that had nothing to do with them.
On this checklist, we have compiled among the angriest reactions from well-known individuals, together with cases the place their anger was warranted, in addition to instances when a celeb’s response seemingly proved the present’s level.
10
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry
Season 26, Episode 2 – “The Worldwide Privateness Tour”
When Kyle tries out CumHammer Model Administration, he does not count on to run into his new, loud neighbors, the Prince and Princess of Canada. The couple is at odds with Kyle, claiming that, by complaining about their noisiness, he’s victimizing them and violating their privateness. Ultimately, Kyle convinces the Prince that there are extra vital issues than his picture, and the 2 go exterior to play with Kyle’s mates. The Princess, nevertheless, decides to remain on the model administration firm, much more involved with how she’s perceived than who she truly is.
A Not-So Personal Response
“The Worldwide Privateness Tour” was one of many highlights of South Park within the early 2020s. The episode poked enjoyable on the real-life Duke and Duchess’s insistence that they needed privateness once they constantly put themselves within the highlight. In accordance with studies, Meghan was “aggravated” by the episode and refused to observe it. To be truthful, there are causes to argue that Meghan and Harry’s depiction was unfair or not less than did not inform the complete story. Moreover, different rumors about their response, comparable to their plans to sue the present, have been in the end confirmed unfaithful.
9
Jennifer Lopez
Season 7, Episode 5 – “Fats Butt and Pancake Head”
Throughout Season 7’s episode “Fats Butt and Pancake Head,” Cartman’s hand, now named Jennifer Lopez, turns into a well-known singer and replaces the human model, a lot to the latter’s displeasure. Issues get even worse when human-J. Lo’s fiancé, Ben Affleck, falls in love with the hand, which Cartman claims has a thoughts of its personal. Ultimately, Cartman’s hand is revealed to be a conman named Mitch Conner, and in a double-twist, Cartman then reveals that he made every part up and that he truly managed the hand. Whether or not or not that is true is debatable, however Jennifer Lopez’s offended response appears to have been very actual.
Not Loving the Episode
In accordance with Trey Parker, shortly after the episode aired, he heard that the employees behind considered one of Jennifer Lopez’s motion pictures have been making jokes about how they beloved tacos (one thing the hand-character claimed to like). Angered, Lopez fired them, however the taunts about tacos continued. We are able to actually perceive why this might need upset her, particularly given the joke’s racial connotations. On the identical time, rumors about her response solely helped gas comparisons with the equally offended South Park character.
8
Nick Jonas
Season 13, Episode 1 – “The Ring”
2009’s episode “The Ring” begins with a thrilled Kenny studying of his new girlfriend Tammy’s “pleasure” towards the Jonas Brothers. To his dismay, after the 2 attend considered one of their concert events, she begins sporting a purity ring. Behind the scenes, Nick, Joe, and Kevin are being compelled by Mickey Mouse to advertise these rings in an effort to promote intercourse to their followers. Ultimately, Kenny’s mates are capable of expose the mouse and cease the scheme, however in actual life, issues have been rather a lot trickier for the bandmates.
Rings a Bell
Whereas not a lot is understood of Kevin’s response to the episode, Nick wasn’t initially a fan. In accordance with a Reddit AMA, he discovered “The Ring” unfunny because it resembled his actual life on the time. Fortuitously, the episode has since grown on him, seemingly as a result of he is since escaped that life-style. Plus, Nick’s brother, Joe, has been a fan of the episode from the beginning.
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7
Sally Struthers
Season 1, Episode 8 – “Starvin’ Marvin”
Actress Sally Struthers is a crucial character in each “Starvin’ Marvin” and the Thanksgiving episode “Starvin’ Marvin in House.” Within the former episode, she seems in a industrial a few charity group (much like commercials for the Christian Kids’s Fund, of which she was a spokesperson). Later, it is revealed that she’s stealing meals from mentioned charity. In “Starvin’ Marvin in House,” she exhibits up as soon as once more, this time as a Jabba the Hutt-esque determine. She winds up serving to the boys return to Earth after they take Marvin and his mates to Marklar. Whereas a heroic ending, the character (understandably) did not go over effectively with the girl on whom she was primarily based.
No Longer a Fan
Not like different entries on this checklist, this episode appears to primarily be a jab at Struthers’ weight versus commentary on her behaviors or persona. Many followers spoke out in opposition to the portrayal as being in poor style. Sadly, Struthers seems to have been a fan of South Park earlier than “Starvin’ Marvin,” with Trey Parker sharing that he heard the episode made her cry.
6
Ed Sheeran
Season 9, Episode 11 – “Ginger Youngsters”
When Cartman wakes up with purple hair and freckles, he decides that Ginger children should be handled higher (…although he beforehand harassed them). What follows is a Nazi-style takeover during which the Ginger children torment their former tormentors, culminating in them kidnapping the opposite kids and planning to sacrifice them in a lava pit. Earlier than he can kill Kyle, the “Daywalker” shares that Cartman is not truly a Ginger, however moderately, the sufferer of their prank. Now realizing that he’ll be killed, too, Cartman tells the opposite Gingers to deal with peace and getting alongside as a substitute of violence, resulting in a second of reconciliation for the youngsters that was too little too late for singer Ed Sheeran.
Pink With Anger
Ed Sheeran is exclusive on this checklist in that he wasn’t truly being mocked within the episode that upset him. Somewhat, “Ginger Youngsters” was spoofing the thought of Gingers being bizarre and creepy, stereotypes which Sheeran had skilled firsthand rising up. In an interview, he mentioned that the episode “ruined his life,” inflicting prejudice in opposition to Gingers within the US to rise. Whereas such prejudice is certainly actual, Sheeran confronted ridicule for his response as a consequence of its depth.
5
Barbra Streisand
A number of Episodes
First showing in Season 1’s “Mecha-Streisand,” Barbra Streisand has been a staple background character in lots of episodes, together with the Halloween episode “Spookyfish.” Whether or not she’s destroying the city or having her face used for “Spooky Imaginative and prescient,” her inclusion within the episodes is at all times antagonistic, or not less than unflattering. At first, these jabs towards Streisand might seem random, however the reasoning behind these seemingly nonsensical jokes has a protracted and sophisticated historical past.
The Streisand Impact
In accordance with Matt Stone and Trey Parker, most of their movie star parodies are meant in good enjoyable. Nevertheless, this is not the case with Barbra Streisand. After a constitutional modification limiting the protections of homosexual individuals handed in Colorado, Streisand apparently known as Coloradans a “bunch of hicks,” which Matt and Trey did not admire. This led to her inclusion in “Mecha-Streisand,” and after she angrily spoke out in opposition to her portrayal, the duo had all of the ammo they wanted to function the movie star as soon as once more.
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4
Tom Cruise
Season 9, Episode 12 – “Trapped within the Closet”
“Trapped within the Closet” revolves round Stan after it is decided that he is L. Ron Hubbard, reincarnated. Scientologist Tom Cruise is happy to fulfill him, till Stan makes a disappearing comment about Cruise’s appearing, resulting in Cruise hiding within the closet (a not-so-subtle suggestion that he is likely to be homosexual). Quickly, Stan learns that the Church of Scientology is at first involved with earning money, and when he calls out the Church for its greed, Cruise and different celebrities threaten to sue him. Whereas a humorous jab on the Church’s historical past of litigation, the scene would trace at real-life occasions to return.
Closetgate
The fallout stemming from “Closetgate” is tough to confirm, however allegedly, Cruise was so upset by his depiction that he threatened to not take part within the publicity tour for Mission: Unimaginable III, which, like South Park, was a Viacom property. Though Cruise’s rep denied these allegations, the episode was pulled from the air, seemingly suggesting the rumor was true. Funnily sufficient, this controversy solely attracted extra consideration to South Park, and in the end, the controversial episode returned to broadcast.
3
Isaac Hayes… Solely Not Actually, It Turns Out
Allegedly, Tom Cruise wasn’t the one well-known individual upset over “Trapped within the Closet.” For years, it was believed that voice actor Isaac Hayes, who performed the beloved character Chef, left the present over its depiction of Scientology. Nevertheless, Hayes’ son had been adamant that his father, who suffered a stroke shortly after the episode aired, wasn’t behind the choice in any respect. Somewhat, it was the Church of Scientology who compelled Hayes to resign, leaving us offended on his behalf.
Correcting the Rumors
It was in all probability deceptive to make use of Hayes’ identify on this entry when the angered celebration was truly the Church of Scientology. Nevertheless, followers are extra acquainted with the inaccurate story about Hayes, and we needed to attract consideration to it being false. Hopefully, this info will help clear up what truly occurred, partly to revive Chef’s legacy, and extra importantly, to avenge Hayes’ personal.
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2
The Authorities of China
Season 23, Episode 2 – “Band in China”
“Band in China” begins with Randy in China attempting to promote weed whereas Stan is attempting to make it large along with his band. Randy quickly will get arrested and is shipped to a piece camp, whereas Stan is obtainable a film deal, however it can require censoring his band’s story. The episode ends with Randy sacrificing his “tegridy” in an effort to broaden his enterprise whereas Stan holds onto his personal however loses his film deal. Paradoxically, the episode “Band in China” acquired South Park banned in China, actually proving the creators’ level concerning the nation’s over-the-top censorship.
Different World Leaders
Like “the Church of Scientology,” possibly “the federal government of China” is just a little obscure to incorporate on this checklist as a well-known individual. However after a response this drastic, can you actually blame us for placing it on the checklist? Plus, China is not the one giant entity to ban or in any other case negatively react to South Park, with a number of radical Islamist teams threatening violence after the episodes “200” and “201” and a number of Catholic leaders attempting to censor “Bloody Mary.” Principally, South Park has an actual knack for mocking world leaders—and a few of them completely deserve it.
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President Donald Trump
Season 27, Episode 1 – “Sermon on the ‘Mount”
Earlier this week, Season 27 of South Park premiered with what may go down as its most controversial—and needed—satire but. The episode “Sermon on the ‘Mount” follows Cartman and Stan as they attempt to make sense of the brand new anti-Woke tradition in school, with Cartman feeling like he is misplaced his anti-Woke function and Stan not understanding how issues have modified so drastically. Quickly, the remainder of the city is asking the identical query, and so they go to Garrison demanding solutions. Solely, Garrison is not President of the US. As an alternative, it is the Devil-dating, small-membered, Saddam Hussein-esque Donald Trump.
An Necessary Sermon
To be truthful, Trump hasn’t publicly come out in opposition to the episode but, however we’re anticipating the social media meltdown to hit any day now. Already, we now have a glimpse into his ideas on “Sermon on the ‘Mount” courtesy of White Home spokesperson Taylor Rogers, who referred to South Park as a “fourth-rate present.” Respectfully, or possibly not, we disagree; “Sermon on the ‘Mount” is a first-rate episode that spotlights lots of the points inside the present Trump administration. Hopefully, it can function a wake-up name relating to anti-Wokeness and authoritarian rule, reminding viewers that wealthy, well-known individuals aren’t above criticism. And may we discover considered one of these highly effective individuals in mattress with the satan, all of us have a duty to name them out.