South Park, best known for its extremely controversial opinions within pop culture, is sticking around for a lot longer than first believed. The pop-cultural phenomenon, most known by its leading characters Eric Cartman, Kyle Broflovski, Stan Marsh and Kenny McCormick, has now broken headlines with its record-breaking deal of $900 million for six new seasons alongside 14 movies set within the South Park universe. Despite only having one official film as of now, creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone previously stated some past episodes (that had been made into a longer format, such as the ‘pandemic special’) were made to ‘scratch both itches. Providing both longer form content while making it more palatable to an audience with a short attention span.   

The fan favourite show, which has been running for over 20 seasons, has had many scandals surrounding it. From the title of their first film being rejected for being too outwardly rude, having a public feud with Scientology, and of course countless run ins with being ‘politically incorrect’. Despite all this and more, the cultural phenomenon has survived all this controversy and to this day the creators say they don’t have to worry about cancel culture as they have ‘f-k you money now’. While the two have never hidden their immense wealth, earned through both the success of South Park, and the Tony Winning musical ‘The Book of Mormon’, it was brought into the public eye after the purchase of restaurant Casa Bonita (a famous Colorado restaurant, re-popularised by the show). It is the creators’ ability to branch out into various business ventures that has enabled them to stay relevant in an ever-changing social climate.   

Rather than running from the social beast that is cancel culture, Parker and Stone seemingly run towards it without fear as they deem it to be a ‘legit cultural change’ that can only truly understood and respected through comedy – demonstrated through many recent episodes of South Park. However, through playing into the restrictive nature of cancel culture alongside the guaranteed payout, it has been argued that the show has now lost its integrity, morphing into an apparent mockery of itself. Fans worry that due to the large financial risks that have been placed on the continued success, fewer risks will be taken within the writing of episodes, resulting in only a glossy shell of what it once was.   

Aside from all the online debate surrounding South Parks future, it is clear that Parker and Stone intend on only ingraining it further within social culture, through bringing more features of the fictional town into reality. Luckily, it appears fan favourite location of Tegridy farms may become a reality. While the legalities have not been outlined yet, the co-creators have stated this will become the first of many new South Park themed ventures to come.   

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