The creators of South Park are reportedly relying on what legal experts call the “small-penis rule” as a way to shield themselves from potential lawsuits by President Donald Trump.
In the season 27 premiere of the iconic animated show, titled Sermon on the Mount, South Park took its long-running satirical jabs at the president to new heights.
In one of the most striking scenes, Trump is depicted naked and lying in bed with Satan.
Satan dismisses him by remarking: "I’m not in the mood right now. Another random b*** commented on my Instagram that you’re on the Epstein list," and adds that Trump's penis is so small he “can’t even see anything," per The Mirror.
This explicit and exaggerated portrayal of the US leader has ignited a firestorm of controversy, drawing sharp criticism from the White House and supporters.
Yet, legal experts suggest that the “small-penis rule” is a carefully calculated move to shield creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone from any potential defamation lawsuits.
The rationale behind the strategy is straightforward: if the 79-year-old were to pursue legal action, he would essentially have to confirm that the portrayal of his physical attributes was accurate, undermining any case he might have.
This legal safeguard is a twist on South Park's longstanding method of using exaggerated, over-the-top depictions of real-life figures to critique them, with the protection of US parody laws firmly on their side.
The jabs at Trump didn’t stop with the premiere episode, as in the following week, the creators took aim at U.S. immigration policy and went even further in mocking the current president.
The episode showed school counselor Mr. Mackey joining ICE after losing his job. He then raided the set of Dora the Explorer, and was rewarded with a trip to Mar-a-Lago - where he’s offered a threesome with Satan and Trump. Dora, now working as a masseuse at the resort, narrowly escapes a disturbing encounter.
The plot alludes to Trump’s alleged ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, blending surreal satire with real-world controversy.
Reactions online have been swift and divided. Some praised the satire: “The way South Park is dragging Kristi Noem has me on the floor,” one fan wrote, while another said: “I have been watching South Park since 1997. I have never seen them bury someone the way they buried Kristi Noem tonight.”
Despite the criticism, including from Trump’s spokesperson, Taylor Rogers, who called the show "fourth-rate" and accused it of having "uninspired ideas," Parker and Stone remain unfazed.
In a characteristic response, Parker, when asked about the backlash at Comic-Con International, sarcastically said, “We’re terribly sorry.”
You can stream South Park on Paramount+.