In a scathing Thanksgiving special, the animated series South Park has delivered a sharp critique of Saudi Arabia's growing influence in global entertainment and the social media habits of US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth. The episode, titled 'Turkey Trot', which aired on Wednesday, 26 November, uses the town's annual race as a backdrop for its satirical commentary.
Saudi Sponsorship Under the Microscope
The plot centres on the fictional town seeking sponsorship for its Turkey Trot race from Saudi Arabia, mirroring recent real-world controversies. The show makes repeated references to the Riyadh Comedy Festival that took place in October, where comedians like Dave Chappelle, Pete Davidson, Kevin Hart, Louis CK, Jimmy Carr, and Jack Whitehall performed for substantial fees under the condition they avoid jokes about religion or the Saudi royal family.
In a moment of self-awareness, the townsfolk ponder the logic: "I mean, they're giving money to everyone else. Why not us?" A promotional video within the episode explicitly states, "Disparaging remarks towards the Saudi royal family are strictly prohibited," directly lampooning the non-disparagement clauses reported in real-life contracts.
Cartman's Defence and Hegseth's Social Media Obsession
The episode features a heated argument between characters Eric Cartman and Tolkien Black, who refuses to participate due to the Saudi involvement. Cartman delivers a characteristically cynical defence, asking, "What, Tolkien, you don't like that Saudi Arabia is buying American stuff? They're trying to be progressive, okay?... You can't whine about a country trying to come into the 21st Century."
Simultaneously, the caricature of Pete Hegseth is depicted as relentlessly focused on creating social media content. He spends much of the episode directing his Department of War soldiers to help him shoot videos while pleading with his virtual audience to "like and subscribe," a pointed jab at the modern politician's online persona.
Creators on Politics and Pop Culture
This foray into current events aligns with recent statements from the show's co-creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker. In a New York Times interview earlier this month, Parker explained their approach, stating, "It's not that we got all political. It's that politics became pop culture."
Stone added that targeting the Trump administration had become "taboo," which naturally attracted them. "Trey and I are attracted to that like flies to honey," he said. "Oh, that's where the taboo is? Over there? OK, then we're over there." Parker was quick to clarify their non-partisan stance, noting, "We're just very down-the-middle guys. Any extremists of any kind, we make fun of."
The Thanksgiving episode continues South Park's long tradition of using humour to dissect complex socio-political issues, proving that even a town's simple footrace can become a battlefield for cultural commentary.
