South Park Announces Name Change to 'South America' for 29th Season
Quick Look
- South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone announced the show will rename to 'South America' for its 29th season starting Sept.
- 16, citing inspiration from Apple and Google's renaming of Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' following Trump's executive order, amid broader controversy over geographic name changes and Paramount's merger with Skydance.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The announcement follows a series of executive orders by President Trump to rename geographic features, including Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' and the Gulf of Mexico to 'Gulf of America', which have drawn international criticism. Apple and Google updated their maps to reflect 'Lake America' for U.S. users while retaining 'Lake Ontario' for Canadian users.
Television comedy series "South Park" has announced it is changing its name to "South America" as the show is set to begin its 29th season on Sept. 16.
The show's creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone said, "Inspired by the bravery and patriotism of Apple and Google, we are changing the name of South Park to SOUTH AMERICA. We especially want to thank our parent company Paramount -- a Skydance Capitulation."
Parker and Stone's statement comes after U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America amid a trade spat with Canada. Canadian officials said they will not recognize the new name.
Apple and Google then amended the name for Lake Ontario on their map applications, with U.S. users seeing "Lake America," while Canadian users saw "Lake Ontario."
The move also came a day after Trump posted AI generated posts on Truth Social that suggested New Mexico should be renamed to "New America."
Last year, the president used an executive order to change the name for the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, drawing international opposition.
"South Park" won an Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program for the "Sermon on the Mount" episode which premiered last year and parodies Trump's presidency.
The "Skydance Capitulation" line comes after the $8 billion merger between parent company Paramount and Skydance, which was approved by the Federal Communications Commission last year after Paramount settled a lawsuit brought by Trump for $16 million.
Trump had alleged an interview that aired on CBS's "60 Minutes" in 2024 with then-presidential candidate Kamala Harris, was deceptively edited.
Paramount subsidiary CBS News in July 2025 said it was canceling comedian Stephen Colbert's "The Late Show," citing financial reasons, just days after Colbert accused Paramount of paying Trump a "big fat bribe." The final episode of the show aired in May.
Paramount and the White House didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The name change will generate significant backlash from viewers and media critics.
Likely · Within days
Paramount may face increased scrutiny over its relationship with the Trump administration.
Possible · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Will the name change to 'South America' affect the show's content or storytelling?
- How will international audiences, particularly in South America, react to the name change?
- What legal or trademark implications does the name 'South America' have for the show?
- Will Paramount face further backlash from advertisers or viewers over the name change?
