South Park shames Paramount and satirizes Trump’s power shortly after $1.5B deal

South Park has marked its return with the premiere of its 27th season, delivering a sharp critique of President Donald Trump and its parent company, Paramount. This comes just one day after the animated series secured a whopping $1.5 billion deal with the network, The Guardian reported. The episode titled "Sermon on the Mount" dives into themes surrounding Trump's litigation against Paramount and the sudden cancellation of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."

The episode vividly portrays Trump in a surreal and controversial scenario: in bed with Satan. These depictions, using actual photographs of Trump superimposed on animated figures, harken back to South Park's earlier satire of renowned figures. Throughout the show, Trump is projected as a relentless and litigious character, eager to sue anyone who crosses his path, according to The Guardian.

The storyline extends to the chaos in South Park and is a criticism of "wokeness" and Trump's push for Christianity in classrooms. When parents of the show’s fictional town resist, Trump's character menaces with costly lawsuits. As reported by USA Today, Jesus is reluctantly thrust into the school's affairs due to the meddling of political pressures.

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Direct jabs at Paramount come from its controversial dealings with Trump, primarily the $16 million lawsuit over an allegedly deceptive "60 Minutes" interview, Politico reports. Following the tumultuous settlement, Paramount seemingly axed Stephen Colbert's popular show, citing financial justifications. However, Politico noted skepticism, suggesting appeasement of Trump might have been a factor, despite Paramount's claims.

In a narrative crescendo, the episode ends with South Park's residents agreeing to pay a $3.5 million settlement to Trump, voiding the notion of a $5 billion lawsuit. The agreement includes producing pro-Trump messages, escalating the episode’s satirical nature.

The strategic timing of South Park's provocative premiere coincides with new ambitions. With a $1.5 billion contract solidified for exclusive streaming on Paramount+, the series' creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, continue pushing boundaries, intertwining political commentary with the sharp wit that has become their hallmark.