20 Times South Park Warned Us About Terrible People

20 Times South Park Warned Us About Terrible People

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at instances where “South Park” warned us - either intentionally or inadvertently - about people who have gained bad reputations.

Jennifer Lopez

In back-to-back Season 5 episodes, Stan and Kyle tortured a Jennifer Lopez toy. This was child’s play compared to Season 7, when Cartman’s hand puppet upstages the real Lopez, who is depicted as an out-of-touch diva who views herself as God’s gift to the world. In the years following this episode, Lopez seemed to bring herself down to earth. That was until her 2024 documentary, “The Greatest Love Story Never Told.” What was supposed to provide a behind-the-scenes look at Lopez’s latest album and accompanying narrative film played more like an egotistical celebrity tooting her own horn. It was a vanity project that reeked of entitlement, taking us back to 2003 when the world was officially over Bennifer. They broke up again around this time.

Meghan Markle

At first, some championed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for speaking out against the Royal family. In 2023, though, “South Park” pointed out an irony that’s only become more apparent. For a couple who stepped away from their fellow royals in favor of a more private life, they have a habit of calling attention to themselves. Meghan Markle, in particular, can’t seem to get enough of the spotlight. “South Park” called Meghan and Harry out under the guise of a Canadian prince and his Instagram-loving wife. The episode is slightly more sympathetic toward the prince, depicting his wife as the one who calls the shots. The media has painted a similar portrait of Harry, arguing that he traded one controlling, privileged monarch for another.

Xi Jinping

Xi Jinping has been the president of China since 2013, although with the termination of term limits, some would argue that he’s become a dictator who has ushered in an age of censorship. As “South Park” pointed out, Winnie the Pooh came under scrutiny in China after Xi was compared to the silly old bear. While censored, Pooh hasn’t been outright banned in China. “South Park” is banned, however. Following a Season 23 episode poking fun at the parallels between the president and Pooh, the Chinese government outlawed “South Park.” Everything online, from streaming episodes to fan sites, was erased in China. This only proves what “South Park” was saying: Xi is oppressing freedom of speech. China fell right into “South Park’s” trap.

Britney Spears’ Critics

When Britney Spears was at her lowest, “South Park” provided a surprisingly empathetic portrayal. That’s not to say she’s depicted in the most flattering light, but the episode is far more critical of the paparazzi and public that thrived on kicking Spears while she was down. As much as “South Park” condemns celebrities, this episode reminds us that Spears is a person. To the bloodsucking tabloids banking on her misfortune, she was fair game. It wasn’t until years later that the media was held accountable for piling onto Spears’ pain. Over a decade before “Framing Britney Spears,” “South Park” told us to leave her alone. While Spears is thankfully doing better now, this episode still reminds society how awful it can be as a whole.

Kristi Noem

Donald Trump has made numerous questionable choices as president, endorsing Kristi Noem being one of them. As Secretary of Homeland Security, Noem was already making an infamous name of herself, but “South Park” highlighted a detail you might’ve overlooked. In her book, Noem wrote about killing her dog, Cricket. Chasing chickens and once biting Noem, Cricket wasn’t obeying her master during hunting season. So, Noem hunted Cricket, taking the dog to a gravel pit. Cricket isn’t the only animal that Noem has put down, taking out a goat she deemed “nasty and mean.” So, when there are false reports of immigrants eating dogs, Trump causes an uproar, but when Noem slaughters a furry friend, he gives her a position of power. Makes sense!

Jeff Bezos

There’s no denying that Amazon has made life easier for consumers. That’s why most people have turned a blind eye to the company’s various controversies, like causing smaller businesses to go under and creating a poor work culture. At the top of this pyramid is Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who “South Park” depicts as a diabolical supervillain right out of a “Star Trek” episode. Amazon workers aren’t the only ones who have criticized Bezos. Employees from The Washington Post, which Bezos owns, have spoken out against their boss, especially after he blocked the paper from endorsing Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election. Bezos has been accused of backing candidates who promise to make the rich richer and keep consumers in their place down below.

Bill Donohue

In “South Park,” the president of the Catholic League claims that everything he’s doing is in the name of God. Yet, when Jesus doesn’t see eye to eye with him, Donohue is ready to crucify Christ again. Although the episode ends with Jesus slicing him in half, Donohue seemed flattered by his portrayal… which we’re not sure is a good thing. Donohue displayed a still from the episode featuring his animated counterpart dressed as the Pope. That doesn’t exactly diminish the idea that Donohue wants to usurp the Pope’s power for himself. Donohue was more critical of an episode about sexual abuse in the church. Yet, his issue wasn’t the church’s depiction, but that the predatory priests were targeting kids rather than adolescents.

Daniel Snyder

Washington’s football team retired its problematic logo and name in 2020. Six years earlier, “South Park” was already throwing shade at the team’s trademark. When Cartman tries to claim the trademark for himself, he goes up against the team’s disgruntled owner, Daniel Snyder. Cartman turns the tables on Snyder, showing him what it’s like when a business takes a part of your identity and profits off it. Perpetuating a negative stereotype is one thing, but in the years since this episode, Snyder has faced accusations of sexual harassment, toxic working conditions, and financial fraud. In 2023, Snyder’s controversies culminated in him selling his team, which now goes by the Washington Commanders. Suddenly, we don’t feel as bad for Snyder as the Dallas Cowboys tackle him.

L. Ron Hubbard

“South Park” did their homework for the episode “Trapped in the Closet,” detailing “what scientologists actually believe.” It’s brutally honest about the church’s founder, sci-fi writer L. Ron Hubbard. As Kyle tells Stan, Hubbard was accused of having young boys as lovers and was busted on multiple criminal charges, including fraud. Family members also accused Hubbard of abuse. Beyond Hubbard as a person, it could be argued that he’s caused more harm as a symbol. Some might describe Scientology as a religion. Others see it as a cult that brainwashes its followers. Isaac Hayes III even claims that the church forced his father to retire as Chef after a stroke, tweeting, “My dad did not quit ‘South Park.’ Scientology did.”

Andrew Tate

Randy Marsh got pretty toxic for a period. So toxic that he enlisted the help of a sex trafficker named Alonzo Fineski, a thinly veiled version of Andrew Tate. A kickboxer turned influencer, Tate built an empire on misogyny and far-right politics. When this episode aired in March 2023, Romanian authorities were already investigating Tate for his alleged criminal activities. Later that year, Tate and his brother were officially charged with human trafficking and sexual abuse, among other crimes. Since then, even more charges have been brought against the Tate brothers, including a civil case involving tax evasion. While the brothers have denied any wrongdoing, many fear for the generation of young men who grow up buying into Tate’s toxicity.

Barry Bonds

Learning a valuable lesson, Jimmy condemns athletes who use steroids with Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, and Jason Giambi ironically in the background. While all three MLB players would be embroiled in doping scandals, Bonds’ image arguably got hit the hardest. In addition to performance-enhancing allegations, Bonds was indicted for perjury. Found guilty of obstruction of justice, Bonds’ sentence included probation, community service, and house arrest, although the conviction was overturned. Despite maintaining his innocence, Bonds acknowledged that he wasn’t very sportsmanlike, saying in 2016, “No one wants to be treated like that, because I was considered to be a terrible person.” Reflecting on the episode, Trey Parker said, “This was like way before people were calling out Barry Bonds. So I’m pretty proud of that.”

Rob Schneider

Matt Stone and Trey Parker dedicated an entire episode to so-called medium John Edward, depicting him as a phony. While numerous skeptics share the same views on Edward, the episode is more recognized for its portrayal of Rob Schneider. The real Schneider thought the parody was hilarious, and if releasing terrible comedies to the public were his worst offense, he wouldn’t be on this list. In recent years, though, Schneider has become infamous for spreading baseless conspiracy theories, misinformation about vaccines, and hate speech toward marginalized groups, most notably transgender people. Those are just some reasons Schneider’s daughter, Elle King, is at odds with him. With many fans turning on Schneider as well, maybe he’s become “worthier” of John Edward’s title.

Caitlyn Jenner

Jenner has been a prominent South Park figure since Season 19 when Kyle questions if she’s truly a hero. Under PC pressure, Kyle concludes that coming out as transgender was brave. That doesn’t necessarily mean Jenner is a good person, however. This is reflected in the following episode, addressing Jenner’s real-life car crash that claimed a life. She settled without jail time in what could be chalked up to a horrible accident, but Jenner’s former supporters have struggled to justify her recent behavior. This includes standing against trans girls in female sports. Just as her “South Park” counterpart became Garrison’s running mate, Jenner later endorsed Trump and ran for office herself. Yet, many feel Jenner’s political views contradict the message of acceptance she once preached.

“Mama June” Shannon

This Emmy-winning episode questions how low the standards for humanity have plummeted, using “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” as a point of reference. “South Park” depicts matriarch “Mama June” Shannon as a shameless reality TV mom who passes the same values - or lack thereof - to her daughter. Parker and Stone weren’t the first to question Shannon’s parenting capabilities. The plot thickened two years later when news broke Shannon was dating a registered sex offender who harmed daughter Anna. This led to the show’s cancelation, but Mama June still found work on TV. June’s substance use persisted, though, leading to legal issues. This contributed to her strained relationship with Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson, who has tried getting away from her mama’s drama as an adult.

Mel Gibson

When Mel Gibson made “The Passion of the Christ,” some deemed him a profound auteur with a meaningful message to share. Others - like Stone and Parker - questioned what was going on in this guy’s head. The show’s daffy portrayal of Gibson grew more relevant with time, as the Oscar winner became engulfed in numerous legal troubles and public relations nightmares. By the time Gibson was implicated in a domestic violence case, few saw a path forward for the once-celebrated actor and filmmaker. That said, Gibson’s career would rebound with him going on to score another Oscar nomination for “Hacksaw Ridge.” His comeback shocked some, but even the “South Park” creators admit that Gibson knows story structure. Otherwise, say what you will about him.

Ira Einhorn

Earth Day Brainwashing Organization leader Jack Farlis is so committed to saving the planet that he’s willing to cause anyone who stands in his way physical pain - namely Kenny. Although Farlis is fictional, he’s based on Ira Einhorn, who helped popularize Earth Day. In addition to sharing a physical resemblance - complete with a ponytail - Einhorn and Farlis have a history of violence. In the late 70s, Einhorn was accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend Holly Maddux, fleeing to Europe before he could face trial. By the 90s, Einhorn’s name had fallen into obscurity. Following an arrest in 1997, though, Einhorn was extradited to the U.S. on July 20, 2001, two days after this episode aired. Einhorn was sentenced to life in prison, dying in 2020.

Kanye West

When “South Park” dished out its “Fishsticks” episode in 2009, Kanye West was already gaining a reputation for his impulsive behavior. It wasn’t until West interrupted Taylor Swift’s VMA speech later that year people realized just how spot-on “South Park” was. The Ye Saga has only gotten more erratic over time, from his offensive comments on slavery, to his attempt to break into politics, to his Nazi ideals. The fish thing might’ve been a joke, but even “South Park” couldn’t make all this up. Yet, the show’s portrayal of Ye only seems to become more accurate every year. Part of that may be mental health-related, although some argue that Ye’s bipolar diagnosis doesn’t absolve him of hate speech.

R. Kelly

Before the “Trapped in the Closet” episode, R. Kelly’s alleged crimes were the music industry’s worst-kept secret - if you could even call it a secret by 2005. Many turned a blind eye to the R. Kelly stories, but not “South Park.” Three years after the show depicted the singer as a loose cannon who endangers those around him, Kelly was acquitted of the charges against him. Amid the #MeToo movement and “Surviving R. Kelly” documentary, law enforcement revisited the decades of accusations. This led to Kelly’s arrest and conviction with the artist currently serving a 31-year combined sentence. When people look back at the various shows that warned us about R. Kelly, “South Park” stands out as one of the most quotable examples.

P. Diddy

Best remembered for this Season 8 episode, P. Diddy’s “Vote or Die” campaign - or Citizen Change - might sound like something “South Park” fabricated. It was all too real, however. “South Park” got more right about Diddy than the creators likely expected. Just as his caricature threatens Stan, the real Diddy has since been linked to more than 100 cases of abuse - some involving minors. Amid the accusations, people couldn’t help but think about “South Park’s” parody. They also looked back to another episode where Satan asks, “What didn’t Diddy do?” It’s a question we’ve been asking a lot lately, wondering how his case can possibly become more surreal or troubling. The most prognostic part? Diddy was arrested on September 16, 2024 - right before National Voter Registration Day.

Jared Fogle

The former Subway spokesman might’ve seemed like an odd target for “South Park” in 2002. Of course, we guess that was part of the joke. Jared Fogle appeared to be a good role model and an all-around beloved figure. Surely he’d be the last person society would turn against. A lot can change over 13 years. In 2015, Fogle’s history of inappropriate and criminal behavior with children came to light. Unlike his downfall in “South Park,” this wasn’t one big misunderstanding. Fogle pleaded guilty, being sentenced to more than a decade and a half in prison. The episode thus took on a whole new level of commentary. “South Park” has since done other Jared parodies, and now, citizens have a legitimate reason to fear him.

Can you think of any terrible people who got the “South Park” treatment? Let us know in the comments.