In a move reminiscent of Donald Trump, the popular animated satire “South Park” is switching gears for its upcoming 29th season and rebranding itself as “South America.” The decision is a playful jab at the U.S. president’s penchant for renaming geographical features to include ‘America.’
Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone announced the name change in a statement, citing inspiration from tech giants Apple and Google. The duo also sarcastically thanked their parent company Paramount as a “Skydance Capitulation.”
This move holds particular significance due to the show’s parent company, Paramount Skydance, being linked to David Ellison, who denies any association with Trump. The Ellisons are currently embroiled in a legal battle over an alleged side deal with Trump related to the Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery merger.
Trump’s trend of renaming landmarks began during his second term, with efforts to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Most recently, he directed the U.S. government to refer to Lake Ontario as Lake America. While some entities have resisted these changes, tech giants like Apple and Google have faced criticism for complying with the revisions on their maps.
The timing of “South America” is notable, coinciding with Trump’s suggestion to rename New Mexico as New America. Whether this name change is a passing joke or a theme for the new season remains to be seen, aligning with the series’ tradition of satirizing Trump and his administration.
The Emmy-winning show, which debuted in 1997, has consistently drawn ire from Trump and his supporters for its bold humor. Recent episodes have featured Trump in compromising situations, further fueling the contentious relationship between the show and the former president.
The upcoming season of “South Park,” now dubbed “South America,” premieres on September 16 on Comedy Central, with its Canadian debut following on Paramount+ the next day.