South Park Creators Vow No Censorship on Trump Satire Under Paramount’s New Leadership

Amid increased political scrutiny surrounding Paramount Global and its new ownership under David Ellison‘s Skydance Media—particularly following the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s show and a settled lawsuit with Donald Trump—the creators of South Park have confirmed that they retain complete creative freedom over their content.

South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone indicated that neither Paramount’s leadership nor Ellison has attempted to push back or censor their blistering political satire, including their frequent and pointed mockery of President Trump. The creators stated that the company is “letting us do whatever we want,” reinforcing the show’s long-standing reputation for being an “equal opportunity offender.“

Context: South Park‘s Lucrative Independence

The confirmation is significant, given the highly charged business and political climate surrounding Paramount:

David Ellison’s Political Ties: Ellison, who now controls Paramount through the Skydance merger, is the son of Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison, a known ally of the former President. This relationship fueled speculation that politically critical programming might face internal pressure.

Recent Controversies: Concerns over censorship were heightened by two recent events:

1. The cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s late-night show on the Paramount-owned CBS, an announcement that Paramount attributed to financial losses but which critics suggested might be politically motivated due to Colbert’s vocal criticism of Trump.

2. Paramount’s settlement of a lawsuit brought by Trump against the CBS news program 60 Minutes, a move that sparked accusations of political bribery given the pending merger approval.

Despite this backdrop, Paramount’s new leadership has publicly praised Parker and Stone, recognizing South Park as one of the company’s most lucrative and strategically valuable franchises. Paramount holds a massive, long-term deal with the creators, reportedly valued at $1.5 billion, underscoring the company’s financial incentive to maintain the show’s uncompromising vision.

The long-running animated series recently returned to screens with an episode that directly addressed the controversy, depicting an explosive plot that referenced the Trump lawsuit, the Colbert cancellation, and themes of censorship, confirming that the show remains fearless in satirizing both the American political landscape and the media ecosystem it operates within.