The day after “South Park” premiered its 27th season, creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone sat alongside Mike Judge and Andy Samberg at Comic-Con’s animation panel. When the moderator asked about the episode, Parker only said three words—“We’re terribly sorry”—with a grin that made it clear he wasn’t actually apologizing. It came just hours after their Trump-heavy episode had already started trending and stirring pushback.

Trump Scene Draws Fire

The episode portrayed Trump in bed, naked, with Satan. It wasn’t subtle. The storyline also hinted at Paramount’s reported settlement with Trump, which followed a legal dispute over edits made to a “60 Minutes” interview featuring Kamala Harris. Many believe the settlement was part of an effort to push through Paramount’s merger with Skydance Media.

Colbert’s Exit Raises Questions

Stephen Colbert & South Park
Stephen Colbert’s “Late Show” was canceled by Paramount.

Shortly after the premiere, Paramount announced the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s “Late Show”. Colbert has been one of the most vocal Trump critics in mainstream media. With the merger looming, some observers see the move as Paramount trying to clean house and avoid political entanglements. The timing wasn’t lost on anyone.

Comic-Con Commentary Turns Political

During the panel, moderator Josh Horowitz joked about bringing a subpoena. Parker shot back, “It’s fine; we’re ready.” The duo made it clear they aren’t thrilled with the Skydance deal, which they believe is disrupting the show’s future. And they didn’t need a long monologue to make the point.

White House Response Escalates Things

The official “South Park” X account didn’t pull punches earlier in the month, writing, “This merger is a s—show and it’s f—ing up South Park.” But things got louder after the episode aired. A White House spokesperson told Fox News the show hasn’t been relevant in decades and accused it of desperation. It was one of the sharpest rebukes South Park has ever received from an administration—and there’ve been many.