‘South Park’ Renamed ‘South America’ Ahead of 29th Season

The creators of the animated comedy series South Park have announced that the show is changing its title to South America as it prepares to launch its 29th season on Sept. 16. Series creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone framed the name change as a satirical response to geographical renaming efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump and corporate reactions by major technology firms.

Satirical Statement Targets Tech and Media Companies

In a public statement, Parker and Stone mockingly credited technology giants Apple and Google while criticizing their own parent company, Paramount. The creators stated that they were inspired by the actions of Apple and Google before adding thanks to Paramount, which they described as “a Skydance Capitulation.”

The announcement followed an executive order issued by Trump attempting to rename Lake Ontario to “Lake America” during a trade dispute with Canada. Canadian officials declared that they would not recognize the change. Following the order, Apple and Google adjusted their digital map applications so that users in the United States were shown “Lake America,” while users located in Canada continued to see “Lake Ontario.”

Broader Context of Geographical Name Changes

The dispute over Lake Ontario is part of a series of attempts by the U.S. administration to alter geographic designations. A day before the South Park announcement, Trump shared artificial-intelligence-generated images on Truth Social suggesting that New Mexico should be renamed “New America.”

During the previous year, the president signed an executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America,” a decision that drew international criticism.

Tensions Surrounding Parent Company Paramount

The reference by Parker and Stone to a “Skydance Capitulation” points to recent high-profile business and legal actions involving Paramount. The Federal Communications Commission approved an $8 billion merger between Paramount and Skydance last year, following Paramount’s agreement to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit filed by Trump.

Trump’s legal challenge alleged that an interview with then-presidential candidate Kamala Harris broadcast on CBS’s 60 Minutes in 2024 had been deceptively edited. CBS News is a subsidiary of Paramount.

In July 2025, CBS News announced the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, citing financial considerations. The decision occurred days after host Stephen Colbert publicly accused Paramount of paying Trump a large bribe. The program aired its final episode in May.

South Park previously won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program for its “Sermon on the Mount” episode, which aired last year and parodied the Trump presidency. Neither Paramount nor the White House immediately responded to requests for comment.

Background

Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, South Park has been on the air for nearly three decades, frequently using satire to address contemporary political developments and media controversies in the United States.

The show’s distributor and corporate parent, Paramount, has faced increased political scrutiny and restructuring over the past two years amid legal disputes, executive branch pressures, and its $8 billion corporate consolidation with Skydance Media.