The Controversial History of Banned South Park Episodes

Introduction

South Park, the long-running satirical comedy series, has never shied away from controversy. With over 300 episodes in its catalogue, the show has pushed the boundaries of television with its unapologetically gross and satirical content. Despite this, only a small number of episodes have been banned, each sparking its own set of controversies.

The Super Best Friends in South Park

The Banned Episodes

The few banned South Park episodes have each earned their notoriety due to their controversial content. From depictions of religious figures to meta-commentary on censorship, these episodes have sparked outrage and debate among viewers and critics alike. Let's take a closer look at some of the most infamous banned episodes of South Park.

Family Guy characters on South Park.

One of the earliest banned episodes, 'Super Best Friends,' featured a parody of the DC Super Friends that included Jesus, Buddha, Moses, and the Prophet Muhammad. Despite initially airing without controversy, it was later banned due to threats of violence surrounding the release of other episodes.

The Super Best Friends team from South Park

'Cartoon Wars Part 1' and 'Cartoon Wars Part 2' centered around a fictional episode of Family Guy that depicted the Prophet Muhammad, sparking a convoluted scheme and addressing public debate around the issue of depicting religious figures.

Bono and Tom cruise stands behind Cartman, Kenny, Eric, and Kyle in South Park

The two-part special '200' and '201' inadvertently turned a fictional plot into reality as it satirized the premise of cartoonists being censored over depictions of the Prophet Muhammad. The episodes were heavily censored and never released in full due to conflicting censorship.

The South Park kids in the cafeteria

The earliest banned episode, 'An Elephant Makes Love To A Pig,' was banned for reasons not related to religious expression, but rather due to a subplot that raised concerns about copycat violence after a real-world incident. Unlike the other banned episodes, it was not related to the depiction of religious figures.

South Park reveals Kenny's face in Super Best Friends

The Aftermath

The banning of these episodes has sparked discussions about freedom of expression, censorship, and the boundaries of satire in television. South Park's willingness to address controversial topics and push the limits of what can be shown on television has both entertained and incited controversy among its audience and critics.

The image of Muhammad censored in South Park