“South Park” Thrives While Other Trump Critics Face Cancellation, Highlighting a New Media Calculus
NEW YORK – In a media landscape increasingly shaped by financial pressures and shifting political dynamics, the animated comedy South Park is bucking a trend: it’s not only openly satirizing former President Donald Trump, but also achieving record viewership and a lucrative $1.5 billion deal with Paramount Plus. This success stands in stark contrast to the recent fates of other prominent Trump critics, like Stephen Colbert, whose show The Late Show was canceled by CBS, reportedly due to financial underperformance. The diverging paths raise questions about the evolving relationship between entertainment, politics, and profitability in the current media habitat.
The situation underscores a growing reality: in the streaming era, content that demonstrably drives subscriptions and viewership appears to be shielded from political repercussions, even when aggressively critical of powerful figures. South Park, created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, has long been known for its satirical edge, and its recent seasons have continued to lampoon Trump and his management, even directly addressing his persona.Despite this, Paramount Global has repeatedly extended its partnership with Parker and Stone, most recently with a comprehensive deal announced July 23, 2025, encompassing both the continuation of South Park and the expansion of South Park Digital Studios.
“They are the foundation of the house that David Ellison’s trying to build, and he can’t compromise,” a source familiar with Paramount’s strategy explained, referring to Ellison, the founder of Skydance Media, which holds a significant stake in Paramount Global.
The contrast with The Late Show is notably striking. While Colbert was a vocal critic of Trump, the show had been experiencing financial difficulties. CBS maintains the cancellation was “purely for financial reasons,” a claim supported by reports indicating the show was losing money. An archived report from Febuary 2025 confirms The Late Show’s financial struggles.
South park’s success, though, is undeniable. Paramount has actively promoted the show’s performance, highlighting its surging ratings. Recent data shows the show is beating viewership records set years ago on cable television. More significantly, when combining cable and streaming audiences, South Park is now attracting 5, 6, or even 7 million viewers per episode, according to reports from CNN and the Los Angeles Times published July 30 and August 13, 2025, respectively. These numbers are exceptionally strong for an animated comedy, and represent a key driver of Paramount Plus subscriptions.This dynamic isn’t occurring in a vacuum. Meta recently reached a settlement with Trump regarding suspensions from Facebook and Instagram, while reports indicate that tech leaders who previously supported Trump have experienced financial losses. Furthermore,some individuals connected to Trump’s political campaigns have been making donations to his inaugural committee,adding another layer to the complex interplay between politics and business.
The South Park case suggests a new calculus is at play. While political alignment may still matter in some corners of the media landscape, demonstrable profitability appears to be a powerful shield, allowing creators to openly criticize even the most powerful figures without facing the same consequences as those whose work doesn’t deliver comparable financial results. The long-term implications of this trend remain to be seen, but it signals a potential shift in the relationship between entertainment, politics, and the bottom line.
