New Paramount CEO Praises South Park Amid Trump Feud

David Ellison, the new CEO of Paramount following its merger with Skydance Media, has expressed strong support for the long-running Comedy Central show South Park and its creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, praising them as "incredibly talented" and "equal opportunity offenders." Despite South Park's sharp criticism of President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem in its 27th season, Ellison affirmed his commitment to the show's continued presence, highlighting its profitability and cultural relevance. The Trump administration has criticized the show as irrelevant, with Trump reportedly upset by his portrayal, while Vance appeared to embrace his depiction. Paramount recently settled a lawsuit with Trump over a 60 Minutes segment on then-Vice President Kamala Harris, a move linked to the approval of the merger, though Ellison stated he was not involved with the settlement or certain controversial decisions like the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which was attributed to profitability issues. Ellison emphasized that he does not want to politicize the company, even as concerns persist among employees and viewers about potential political pressures and support for content critical of the Trump administration. The ongoing controversy underscores the tension between media companies navigating political backlash and maintaining editorial independence amid a polarized political climate.