After a week in which American free speech on the airwaves appeared in peril, the minds behind “South Park” took an opportunity to reiterate that they will not be censored.
In their newest episode, entitled “Conflict of Interest,” co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone once again skewer the federal government for its recent actions, this time bringing Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission, into the fold.
Carr made headlines last week after broadcast networks ABC and Disney suspended late-night show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” for comments its titular host made about the death of media personality Charlie Kirk. (Kirk was notably featured in a previous episode of “South Park” this season.) Many believe the government official pressured the network to take action after an appearance on a conservative podcast, in which he said, “We can do this the easy way or the hard way.”
“These companies can find ways to change conduct to take action on Kimmel or, you know, there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead,” Carr stated on the podcast.
In the “South Park” universe, President Donald Trump has knocked up Satan (yes, that Satan), and the satirical version of Carr keeps finding himself in the middle of the president’s plans to secretly “get rid” of the baby. (“I don’t think your followers would be very happy if we got an abortion,” Satan tells the president, hence the need to do it seemingly unwittingly.)
Carr ends up tripping and falling down stairs, eating soup laced with Plan B One Step emergency contraceptive, and getting doused in cat feces, which leads to him contracting toxoplasmosis, a parasite that can be transferred to fetuses during pregnancy. Carr ends up in the hospital and the diagnosis doesn’t look good.
“If the toxoplasmosis parasite gets to his brain,” the doctor warns, “I’m afraid he may lose his freedom of speech.”
It’s at that point, Vice President JD Vance comes to visit Carr and sinisterly asks him why he keeps foiling plans to get rid of the demon baby.
“I’m next in line to be president. That baby cannot be born,” Vance said. “And if you continue to interfere, I will make things very difficult for you. We can do this the easy way or the hard way.”
That wasn’t the only topical event “South Park” touched on this week. “Conflict of Interest” also played on the rising popularity of prediction market apps and looped the conflict between Israel and Gaza, as well as its impact on Jewish Americans into the plot. The episode ends with Kyle’s mom chewing out Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his actions in the ongoing war.
The next episode of “South Park” is slated to air on Oct. 15 on Comedy Central, as long as Parker and Stone can get it done in time. It streams the following day on Paramount+.
