Viewers of the long-running animated satire South Park have reported feeling 'traumatised' following an episode that featured an explicit homoerotic scene between cartoon depictions of Donald Trump and his Vice President, JD Vance.
A Provocative Plot in the White House
The latest instalment of the series, known for its scathing commentary, saw Vance avoid punishment for treason. The narrative culminated in the two animated politicians sharing a soak in a White House hot tub before ending up in bed together in a graphic cartoon sex scene. This bold move once again pushed the show into provocative territory, deliberately testing the boundaries of satirical television.
Viewer Reactions and Predictions
The explicit encounter prompted a wave of shocked reactions online, with fans quickly taking to social media to express their disbelief. Many predicted the segment would inevitably draw a formal response from the Trump administration.
One viewer wrote on X, formerly Twitter: 'South Park is definitely going to trigger another White House response tomorrow bc holy s****'.
Others focused on the content's disturbing nature, with one simply stating, 'I'm traumatised'. A different user added, 'Thanks for the nightmares tonight, South Park', a sentiment echoed by another who posted, 'Watching South Park. I'm now traumatized.'
The White House Fires Back
In response to the episode, White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers dismissed the show as 'irrelevant'. Rogers stated, '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.'
Defending the president's record, the spokesperson added, '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.'
Creators on the Shift to Trump Satire
In an interview with The New York Times, creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone explained their reasoning for focusing on Trump, a figure they had largely avoided for a decade. Parker clarified that their approach wasn't a deliberate political turn, but a reaction to the cultural landscape. 'It's not that we got all political,' he said. 'It's that politics became pop culture.'
Stone noted that speaking out against the Trump administration had developed a 'taboo' quality, which naturally attracted them. 'Trey and I are attracted to that like flies to honey,' Stone remarked. 'Oh, that's that's where the taboo is? Over there? OK, then we're over there.'
Parker was keen to stress that their satire is not one-sided. 'We're just very down-the-middle guys,' he said. 'Any extremists of any kind we make fun of. We did it for years with the woke thing. That was hilarious to us. And this is hilarious to us.'
A Successful Creative and Business Pivot
This creative shift has proven to be a successful business decision for the show and Comedy Central. According to Nielsen data, the latest episodes have garnered double the show's 2023 ratings, demonstrating a significant viewership interest in this new direction.
The decision to directly portray Trump marks a change from their previous approach, where they used the Mr. Garrison character as a stand-in for the 45th president. Stone revealed that they felt the need to 'just show our independence somehow' following a new deal with Paramount.
Parker admitted their initial plan was to feature Trump in only one episode, but the positive reception, including praise from influential podcaster Joe Rogan who called an earlier Trump-themed episode 'f***ing hilarious', encouraged them to write more material centred on the president.
