How South Park’s Sharp Satire Targets Fox News: A Brilliant Take on Weaponized Juvenility

It’s hard to believe it’s been almost 30 years since South Park first aired. Over the decades, the show has reflected huge changes in technology, fashion, and politics. If you told creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker in 1997 that we’d be using TikTok and that Donald Trump would be a central figure in their satire, I imagine they’d be shocked.

The show has always poked fun at the presidents of the time. But in its latest season, it’s Trump who’s getting the wildest treatment. In a recent episode titled “Wok Is Dead,” Trump is portrayed as having a bizarre sexual relationship with Satan. This episode shines a light on not just Trump, but also how media outlets like Fox News respond to him.

The story kicks off at South Park Elementary, where students are obsessed with Labubus, cute collectible gremlins that have taken over pop culture. Jesus, the school’s new counselor, watches the chaos unfold with confusion. One character, Butters, tries to impress a girl by getting her a rare Labubu from a local shop. The shopkeeper, a character named Tuong Lu Kim, reflects on how times have changed, even jokingly suggesting that Trump’s policies have made their prices skyrocket due to tariffs.

A recent survey confirms this sense of economic strain; nearly 70% of consumers feel that prices have risen under current policies, especially for imported goods. This setting creates a perfect backdrop for South Park‘s trademark humor, blending absurdity with real-world issues.

Butters’s quest for the Labubu takes him deeper into the episode’s satire. The show cleverly ties the collectible phenomenon to the rise of social media. Children unbox their Labubus while allegedly performing demonic rituals—critiquing both consumer culture and current media fears. This mirrors recent “Satanic panic” trends, where some groups have expressed concern over supposed dark influences in pop culture.

These story arcs offer witty commentary on our world today. As characters summon Trump and Satan during a birthday party, the episode raises deeper questions. Who are the real evildoers: the kids invoking demons for fun or the media that thrives on chaos and sensationalism?

Despite its crude humor, South Park is holding up a mirror to society. As it dives deep into the absurdity of our times, it reminds us of the real dangers lurking behind the curtain of our political landscape. Perhaps it’s time we pay attention not just to the characters on screen, but to the commentary they’re making about the world we live in.

For more insights on current media practices and their effects on society, you can read this report from the Pew Research Center.

In the end, South Park continues to be more than just a comedy show; it’s a provocative look at today’s absurdities and a call to think critically about the narratives we consume.

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