Paramount+South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have taken things up a notch in Season 27 Episode 4, which begs the question: how do they get away with so much? The answer is simple, and it has a lot to do with ‘Merica.
For nearly three decades, South Park has been roasting just about everyone and everything – from celebrities like Tom Cruise and the Kardashians, to politicians, religions, and big businesses – and Season 27 is no different.
So far, we’ve seen Randy turn into a ket-sniffing tech bro, Cartman do his best Charlie Kirk impression, Kristi Noem shooting Krypto the Dog, and the actual US president Donald Trump in a relationship with Satan.
The latest Episode 4, ‘Wok is Dead,’ goes after Labubus, Fox News, and tariffs – oh, and Satan is pregnant with Trump’s “butt baby”. How have they not been sued to oblivion?
How does South Park get away with so much?
Paramount+You may have asked yourself this after watching Season 27 Episode 4, and the answer is simple: the US Constitution. Freedom of speech is an argument often used by the figures South Park is satirizing right now, but it works both ways.
The First Amendment protects free speech, including satire, parody, and criticism of public figures. That means Trey Parker and Matt Stone can mock politicians, celebrities, and even religious institutions, provided it’s clear their work is satirical and not presented as factual defamation.
US courts have consistently ruled in favor of satire, even if it’s offensive, shocking, or outrageous, meaning shows like South Park are protected. As such, it’s extremely difficult for anyone to successfully sue them simply for being ridiculed – no matter how hard their feelings are hurt.
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What’s more, the animated series has a solid team of lawyers who check everything, and they even cover their backs with the satirical disclaimer at the start of every episode.
“All characters and events in this show, even those based on real people, are entirely fictional,” it reads. “All celebrity voices are impersonated… poorly. The following program contains coarse language and due to its content it should not be viewed by anyone.”
Obviously, the show poking fun at itself, but it’s also a really smart way to make sure all bases are covered. South Park might portray real-life figures, but only through parody.
Have Trey Parker and Matter Stone been sued?
Paramount+Despite being a target, no lawsuits regarding South Park’s content have ever gone through the trial process – whether that be for defamation or copyright issues – for the reasons mentioned above.
There were rumors that Tom Cruise threatened to sue over for the Season 9 episode ‘Trapped in the Closet’, which, unsurprisingly, implies the actor is trapped in the closet, while also ripping into Scientology. However, these never materialized, nor were they confirmed.
In 2010, South Park was sued by Brownmark Films over a parody of the viral ‘What What (In the Butt)’ video in the Season 12 episode ‘Canada on Strike’. But this was dismissed the following year on fair use grounds, with Viacom awarded $30,000 in attorneys fees.
Yes, multiple South Park episodes have been banned in certain countries over the years, as well as from streaming services in the US – essentially, those are all due to their (censored) depiction of the prophet Muhammad.
But ultimately, Parker and Stone are free to keep ripping into the world as they please thanks to free speech laws (even when it comes to Trump’s penis).
Find out when the next episode drops with our guide to the South Park Season 27 release schedule. You can also check out our ranking of the best South Park episodes and more new TV shows out this month.