South Park’s New Satirical Name
The creators of South Park have humorously rebranded the show as South America for its upcoming season. This mock change targets President Donald Trump and some major tech companies. Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the show’s creators, were inspired by moves made by Apple and Google under the Trump administration.
“Inspired by the bravery and patriotism of Apple and Google, we are changing the name of ‘South Park’ to ‘South America,’” Parker and Stone shared in a statement. “We especially want to thank our parent company Paramount — a Skydance Capitulation.”
Newsweek reached out to Paramount, Apple, Google, and the White House for comments on this announcement.
Why It Matters
For nearly 30 years, South Park has built its reputation on mocking political figures and corporations. Recently, the show has focused on Trump, drawing significant attention. Through this, it highlights discussions about political satire in entertainment.
By satirizing Apple and Google alongside Trump, Parker and Stone critiqued both government actions and corporate compliance.
Did ‘South Park’ Get Renamed?
The creators made a joke about renaming the show ahead of the Season 29 premiere. The move plays on recent Trump administration methods of renaming geographic features by adding ‘America’ to their names. The series continues as South Park, using the rename as a promotional stunt and an example of political satire.
Mocking Corporate Moves
Parker and Stone humorously called their parent company “A Skydance Capitulation” to mock its political pressure response during a merger. Paramount paid $16 million in a settlement after a lawsuit filed by Trump over a 60 Minutes interview, and agreed to end its DEI program.
Trump’s Geographic Rename Efforts
The fictitious rebranding refers to recent actions by the Trump administration, such as renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America following a Canada dispute, and calling for the Gulf of Mexico to be renamed as the Gulf of America. This has influenced mapping services by Google and Apple. This week, Trump suggested renaming New Mexico to “New America,” despite lacking legal authority.
Trump as a Target for Humor
The series has consistently targeted Trump, portraying him with humorous storylines like a relationship with Satan. It is reminiscent of similar portrayals of Saddam Hussein. The show’s political material earned attention at this year’s Emmy Awards, where it won Outstanding Animated Program.
Before the South America announcement, the show’s social media sneered at Trump’s Emmy mishap.
“You finally got your Emmy,” the show noted when accepting the award.
Trump’s Dismay for the Emmys
Trump has previously criticized the Emmys. Referring to the awards show on X in 2012, he labeled it “horrendous” due to its perceived political nature.
“The Emmys are all politics, that’s why, despite nominations, The Apprentice never won,” Trump commented.
Lake Ontario’s Renaming to ‘Lake America’
Trump issued an executive order renaming Lake Ontario as Lake America amid a trade disagreement with Canada. This follows his earlier actions in renaming the Gulf of Mexico.
Map Applications with ‘Lake America’
Both Google Maps and Apple Maps display Lake America due to Trump’s executive order. Parker and Stone referenced these companies in their joking statement.
Meanwhile, MapQuest gained popularity in the App Store by refusing to adopt the new name for Lake Ontario, reaching the top ranks.
‘South Park’s’ Emmy Wins
This week, South Park gained another Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program, adding to its collection. It marks the show’s sixth Emmy and the first in over ten years. The series marked the win with a cartoon image of Trump holding an Emmy.
What Happens Next
Season 29 of South Park premieres on September 16 on Comedy Central, with new episodes on Paramount+ available to the U.S., Canada, and Australia the following day. Given the promotional fun, viewers can expect Trump and his administration to continue as frequent targets.
For More Information, Newsweek editors Jenni Fink and Gray R. Thomas contributed to this story.