New Paramount CEO David Ellison praised South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone for their unflinching approach to comedy, describing them as “equal opportunity offenders” in a recent CNN interview. The comment comes as the iconic animated series continues to stir controversy with its political satire, most recently mocking high-profile figures in the Trump administration.
“Matt and Trey are incredibly talented,” Ellison said. “They are equal opportunity offenders and always have been.” His remarks follow South Park’s latest episodes that have targeted former President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. In a recent episode titled “Got a Nut,” the show lampooned Noem’s appearance and criticized ICE’s immigration raids. Noem responded by calling the satire “lazy,” accusing the show of perpetuating a pattern of mocking women based on looks.
Ellison’s comments also arrive at a pivotal time for Paramount, which recently finalized an $8 billion merger with Skydance Media, formally placing Parker and Stone’s long-running series under his oversight. The deal also brought other major properties such as CBS and MTV into Ellison’s portfolio.
Despite the mounting political backlash, Ellison emphasized a nonpartisan approach. “I do not want to politicize our company in any way, shape or form,” he stated when asked if Paramount would align content with political causes, especially those endorsed by the current administration. He also clarified he was not involved in a previous CBS settlement, in which former Paramount executives agreed to pay $16 million to Trump’s future presidential library following a lawsuit over a contentious 60 Minutes interview.
The White House has previously dismissed South Park as irrelevant, suggesting the show’s influence has waned. But the creators’ ability to spark national headlines indicates they remain a cultural force—one Ellison appears ready to stand behind.
Since its debut in 1997, South Park has thrived on controversy, often satirizing figures across the political spectrum. From mocking Al Gore and Hillary Clinton to more recent digs at Trump and Noem, Parker and Stone have built a legacy of unfiltered, provocative storytelling.
Under Ellison’s leadership, Paramount seems poised to continue supporting this brand of boundary-pushing content—even if it ruffles political feathers on both sides.
