For over twenty-five years, South Park has been the cartoon that simply refuses to behave. Where other shows flirt with controversy, Trey Parker and Matt Stone cannonball right into it, dragging everyone from politicians to pop stars down into the muck with them. The formula has never really changed—offend everyone, make it so over-the-top that you can’t look away, and then slip in sharp satire while you’re still laughing at the fart jokes.
It’s hard to think of another show that manages to mock Hollywood egos, religious institutions, world leaders, and random suburban dads all in one breath. Some episodes are so offensive they got banned, others were so timely that the ink on the headlines hadn’t even dried, and a few went so far that even Parker and Stone later admitted, “Yeah, maybe that was a bit much.”
The following episodes show South Park at its most unhinged, controversial, and unforgettable. From celebrities hiding in closets to Disney characters rotting away in Chinese labor camps, each one reminds us that nothing is sacred in this tiny mountain town.
20. Stupid Spoiled Wh*re Video Playset (Season 8, Episode 12)
This episode is peak South Park chaos, and Paris Hilton is the unfortunate target of it. The girls of South Park fall under her glittery spell. They start idolizing her shallow, over-the-top lifestyle. But instead of sticking to light parody, the show doubles down until it explodes into the bizarre territory.
The climax is a literal “wh*re-off” between Paris Hilton and Mr. Slave. Yes, an actual competition. This competition of debauchery was then judged by the townsfolk. It’s so tasteless it’s almost an art form.
In true Parker and Stone fashion, the episode isn’t just about mocking Hilton—it’s a jab at celebrity culture and how easily kids absorb toxic role models. Hilton did not take it well. She wrote in her memoir (via The Hollywood Reporter),
I’m the title character, but they also apply that epithet to Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Tara Reid, and all the little girls who were fans, which upset me more than anything ugly they could say about me.
It also upset me that the episode graphically portrays Tinkerbell being shot and killed. The thought of that made me sick. I’ve been involved in some pretty edgy media, but I don’t even know where something like that comes from.
But let’s be real: most people remember it for being jaw-droppingly gross, like watching reality TV after five shots of tequila.
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19. The Return of Chef (Season 10, Episode 1)
Chef was one of the most beloved characters in the early seasons, but when Isaac Hayes (his voice actor) quit the show after the infamous Trapped in the Closet episode, things got messy. Rather than quietly writing him off, Parker and Stone went nuclear. They brought Chef back, but with spliced old recordings for dialogue, and made him part of the “Super Adventure Club”—a thinly veiled cult of child-molesting explorers.
It’s as disturbing as it sounds, but the intent was crystal clear. Hayes had defended Scientology while accusing the show of being intolerant. So Parker and Stone decided to get petty in the most brutal way. Chef ultimately dies in a ridiculous, over-the-top accident, giving fans a dark but unforgettable farewell. The satire here doesn’t mention Scientology by name. But it doesn’t need to. Everyone knew exactly what was being roasted.
18. Red Sleigh Down (Season 6, Episode 17)
Cartman wanting to get on Santa’s “nice” list is already funny, but trust South Park to turn a simple holiday plot into a war zone. Cartman ropes Santa, Jesus, and Mr. Hankey into delivering Christmas joy to children in Iraq. Naturally, things go spectacularly wrong when Santa’s sleigh is shot down, morphing the whole affair into a twisted parody of Black Hawk Down and Three Kings.
What follows is part rescue mission, part absurd Christmas special. There’s blood, bombs, and carols—exactly what no one asked for. The episode also casually resurrects Kenny after a long absence, because why not throw another layer of absurdity on top? It’s chaotic, offensive, and somehow still festive. Imagine explaining this plot at a family holiday dinner without sounding unhinged.
17. Scott Tenormann Must Die (Season 5, Episode 4)
If Cartman was ever going to prove he’s TV’s most terrifying child, this was the moment. After being duped into buying pubic hair from Scott Tenorman, Cartman embarks on an elaborate revenge plan. It doesn’t end with a prank or even violence—it ends with Cartman feeding Scott his parents in a chili cook-off.
The sheer darkness of it shocked viewers at the time, and honestly, it still does. This wasn’t just mean-spirited comedy—it was pure horror. It was the kind of horror that was wrapped in satire. It also made Cartman a character capable of unthinkable evil while being oddly hilarious. People laughed, people recoiled, and South Park never looked back.
To this day, Scott Tenormann Must Die is held up as one of the show’s most unforgettable gut-punches.
16. All About Mormons (Season 7, Episode 12)
Religious episodes are South Park’s bread and butter, and this one took aim at Mormonism. A new kid, Gary, moves into town with his picture-perfect Mormon family, instantly winning over Stan. The catch? As Stan learns more about their faith, the absurdity of Mormon history gets the spotlight.
Of course, the Church of Latter-Day Saints wasn’t thrilled about this episode at all. They called it a distorted caricature. But the episode balanced all that ridicule with strangely wholesome family values. Gary’s family is portrayed as genuinely kind, despite their bizarre beliefs. This episode later became part of the inspiration for Parker and Stone’s Broadway smash The Book of Mormon. This probably says everything about its staying power.
15. Mr. Hankey’s Christmas Classics (Season 3, Episode 15)
Nothing says Christmas cheer like a singing poo hosting a variety show from his sewer home. This episode is structured like a bizarre holiday special, with musical numbers ranging from Adolf Hitler belting out a carol to Satan serenading the audience. The standout? “Christmas Time in Hell,” a number so gleefully offensive it could make your grandma faint.
This episode went over the top, even by South Park standards. In 2008, Russian authorities even banned it after complaints poured in. But it’s also one of those episodes that feels like Parker and Stone just dared themselves to see how far they could go. The result is a fever dream of Christmas madness. But even that somehow became a fan favorite.
14. With Apologies To Jesse Jackson (Season 11, Episode 1)
Few episodes caused more controversy than this one. It starts with Randy Marsh on Wheel of Fortune, where he blurts out a racial slur on live TV. The fallout is immediate. His family becomes social outcasts, and Stan is dragged into awkward confrontations. On the other hand, Randy tries, and fails spectacularly, to make amends.
The episode uses repetition of the slur in ways that are deeply uncomfortable. But that’s the whole point. It pushes viewers to confront racism and the awkwardness of language head-on. It does not give anyone a safe space. It’s offensive, yes, but it’s also a social satire that needed to be a little unhinged. Only South Park could get away with an episode this audacious.
13. World War Zimmerman (Season 17, Episode 3)
This one is a mix of pop culture parody with amazingly sharp social commentary. Cartman becomes convinced that J.R.R. Tolkien will somehow trigger a zombie apocalypse à la World War Z. Naturally, this delusion escalates until he’s face-to-face with George Zimmerman, the man acquitted in the highly publicized Trayvon Martin case.
The episode aired just months after Zimmerman’s trial, making it especially raw. Beneath the absurd dream sequences and over-the-top Cartman antics lies sharp criticism of gun laws and racial tension in America. Cartman, of course, only makes things worse—because if anyone could make systemic racism into an even bigger mess, it’s him.
12. Jared Has Aides (Season 6, Episode 1)
Long before Jared Fogle’s real-life crimes came to light, South Park had already shredded the Subway spokesperson. In the episode, Jared visits South Park to talk about his weight loss, but keeps mentioning his “aides.” The townsfolk mishear this as “AIDS,” leading to outrage and mass hysteria.
What follows is a perfect storm of misunderstandings and crude humor. The episode is kind of a parody of Philadelphia, the 1993 legal drama about AIDS. The episode sits on top of the sheer ridiculousness while skewering celebrity culture and society’s reaction to taboo topics. By the end, it’s clear Jared wasn’t the hero people thought. Though reality later confirmed that in ways darker than the show could have imagined.
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11. Bloody Mary (Season 9, Episode 14)
If you thought religious satire couldn’t get grosser, think again. Bloody Mary features a Virgin Mary statue bleeding from her backside, which locals declare to be a miracle. Yes, from her backside. Randy Marsh, deep in his alcoholism, thinks this is his cure and insists on being “blessed” by the statue.
The episode is so outlandish that it actually caused real outrage among Catholic groups, which is saying something considering South Park’s track record. The imagery alone is enough to make viewers squirm. But that’s exactly why it’s remembered. It’s disgusting, it’s shocking, and it’s one of the most unhinged examples of Parker and Stone pushing their satire right past the cliff’s edge.
10. Band In China (Season 23, Episode 2)
When Randy Marsh decides to expand his Tegridy Farms weed empire into China, you already know disaster is coming. What starts as a business trip quickly turns into a parody of corporate greed colliding with authoritarian censorship. Randy ends up in a Chinese labor camp—sharing a cell with Mickey Mouse and Disney characters, no less. Meanwhile, the boys discover that to make their band successful, they’d need to scrub out any “offensive” imagery that wouldn’t fly under China’s watchful eye.
The satire hit so close to home that China didn’t just frown at it—they banned South Park entirely. Gone. Wiped off the internet like it never existed. Parker and Stone, of course, responded with the kind of sarcastic “apology” that made the ban sting even more.
Watch the full episode – https://t.co/oktKSJdI9i@THR article – https://t.co/nXrtmnwCJB pic.twitter.com/Xj5a1yE2eL
— South Park (@SouthPark) October 7, 2019
In true South Park fashion, getting erased from one of the world’s biggest markets became a badge of honor.
9. Trapped In The Closet (Season 9, Episode 12)
Scientology got the full South Park treatment in this episode, and it was as bizarre as you’d expect. Stan takes a personality test and suddenly becomes the chosen one—the reincarnation of L. Ron Hubbard himself. That alone would have been enough for satire gold, but the episode goes full throttle once Tom Cruise shows up, gets offended, and literally locks himself in Stan’s closet. Then John Travolta joins him. It’s like a Hollywood sleepover nobody asked for.
Fans loved it, critics raved, and the IMDb score proves its staying power. But controversy came quickly. The jabs at Tom Cruise’s sexuality stirred headlines, and many point to this episode as the final straw that drove Isaac Hayes (Chef’s voice actor and a Scientologist) away from the show.
Cruise himself was reportedly furious, even trying to get the episode pulled. Of course, Trey Parker and Matt Stone didn’t exactly back down. They wrote in a statement (via Far Out Magazine),
Temporarily anozinizing our episode will not stop us from keeping Thetans forever trapped in your pitiful man-bodies. Curses and drat! You have obstructed us for now, but your feeble bid to save humanity will fail! Hail Xenu!!!
That pretty much sums it up. South Park poked the hornet’s nest and laughed as it buzzed louder.
8. Sermon on the Mount (Season 27, Episode 1)
By season 27, you’d think South Park might slow down a little. Nope. They decided to kick off the season by lampooning Donald Trump’s second presidency. The episode doesn’t tiptoe—it barrels into Trump’s legal scandals, his ties to the Jeffrey Epstein mess, and even tosses in jokes about Christian nationalism in schools.
To make sure nobody missed the point, they also added a string of pen*s jokes. The show had Trump literally hop into bed with Satan. It’s grotesque and very surreal. Naturally, Trump supporters were angry. The White House even sent out a defensive response about the show’s popularity. Spokesperson Taylor Rogers said (via The Guardian),
This show hasn’t been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention. President Trump has delivered on more promises in just six months than any other president in our country’s history – and no fourth-rate show can derail President Trump’s hot streak.
For South Park, getting an actual official government reaction is like winning an Emmy. It means the satire hit its mark.
7. Butters’ Very Own Episode (Season 5, Episode 14)
Butters is usually the sweet, naive kid who gets pushed around, but this episode puts him front and center—and then promptly throws him into the darkest storyline imaginable. He discovers his dad sneaking off to gay bathhouses, his mom responds by trying to drown him in a car, and somehow the whole thing spirals into a kidnapping cover-up involving O.J. Simpson, the Ramseys, and Gary Condit.
It’s part murder mystery, part media circus, and part deeply uncomfortable comedy. Even Parker and Stone later admitted they regretted how far they pushed certain real-life references this time. Still, the episode remains unforgettable. This is mostly because of how casually it makes one of the show’s most innocent characters endure pure chaos. Sweet Butters was just trying to get home in time for his parents’ anniversary. Poor Butters never really stood a chance.
6. Hell On Earth 2006 (Season 10, Episode 11)
Satan, as a spoiled teenager planning a “Sweet 16” Halloween party, is already a hilarious premise. Add in his obsession with getting everything just right, and it turns into a biting parody of reality TV excess. Of course, the Catholic Church notices and shows up to protest, because what’s a demonic bash without some uninvited clergy?
But what made the episode truly infamous was its cameo from Steve Irwin. He was depicted with a stingray still attached to his chest. The problem was that the real Steve Irwin had died from a stingray attack less than two months earlier. Even for a show that thrives on being topical, many fans thought this was too soon. Others argued that being mercilessly satirized was practically what South Park does best.
5. Pinewood Derby (Season 13, Episode 6)
Stan just wanted to win a cub scout race. Instead, thanks to Randy’s “creative” tinkering, the boy’s little wooden car breaks the speed of light and makes first contact with aliens. From there, things escalate into intergalactic gangsters losing their stash of space cash in South Park, which the locals naturally decide to keep for themselves.
The episode didn’t land as hard as others, especially since it aired right after the much-loved “Fishsticks,” but it still left a mark for sure. Mexico wasn’t amused by it because of the digs it took at then-president Felipe Calderón. The episode was temporarily pulled from airing there. Just imagine having an entire country remove a cartoon from its network.
Why? Because a fake alien mob story roasted your leader. Can it get more bizarre than that?
4. The F Word (Season 13, Episode 12)
Language is a tricky thing. This episode decided to jump headfirst into that tricky minefield. The boys start using the F-slur to insult obnoxious Harley riders. They are arguing that the word’s meaning has evolved over the years beyond its original homophobic roots. They even start defending themselves in front of the city council. They are out there insisting they weren’t being discriminatory, they just hate loud motorcycles.
The idea sparked a heated debate. Some praised the commentary on how words change, while others pointed out that slurs don’t simply lose their sting because kids on TV say so. GLAAD even weighed in, stressing that the word was still harmful. Whether you agreed with the message or not, the episode turned a single word into a full-on social study, all while keeping the comedy loud and ridiculous.
3. Dead Kids (Season 22, Episode 1)
Leave it to South Park to make an episode about school shootings—and somehow make it funny without trivializing the horror. In Dead Kids, students carry on with class as if an active shooter in the hallway is just another Tuesday. Sharon Marsh, however, isn’t having it and becomes the only adult in town outraged at how normalized gun violence has become.
Meanwhile, Cartman is laser-focused on a petty feud with Token over whether he sabotaged his test answers as revenge for Black Panther slander. The mix of absurd everyday banality with America’s darkest crisis hits hard, and that’s exactly the point. It’s South Park holding up a mirror to a culture so numb to tragedy that the laughs feel uneasy. Which, of course, makes the episode one of the show’s sharpest gut-punches.
2. Ginger Kids (Season 9, Episode 11)
Cartman has made a career out of being offensive, but this episode turned it up a notch. After delivering a hateful speech about redheads, Kyle tricks him into thinking he’s caught “gingervitis.” Convinced he’s now one of them, Cartman swings wildly to the other side, uniting ginger kids into a supremacist “master race.” It’s basically Hitler with freckles, and yes, the parallels are intentional.
The episode’s impact didn’t stop at the TV screen. It inspired the real-world “Kick a Ginger Day,” which led to actual assaults and even hate crime charges in Canada. Ed Sheeran has even said in jest that this episode completely messed things up for him. He said (via New York Post),
People never knew what a ginger was in America. That episode of ‘South Park’ f–king ruined my life. I was going to America and everyone was like, ‘I love your hair dude.’ And I was like, ‘Oh my God, people like my hair? And then I remember that episode coming out and that was just it worldwide for the rest of my life.
That’s the kind of cultural aftershock only South Park could cause—an episode so dumb and over-the-top that it accidentally sparked international bullying trends.
1. 200 & 201 (Season 14, Episodes 5 & 6)
Want to see South Park at its most outrageous? These two episodes are the perfect example. These two episodes pulled together years of celebrity parodies, from Tom Cruise to Barbra Streisand, and wrapped them into a lawsuit against the town. Meanwhile, Cartman’s long-running mystery about his father finally gets answered in the most outrageous way possible.
But the real lightning rod was the depiction of the Prophet Muhammad. Comedy Central heavily censored the episodes; entire scenes were blocked, and Parker and Stone received severe backlash, including threats. To this day, the full versions remain nearly impossible to find. Fans praised the ambition and the jaw-dropping twist, but the fallout cemented these episodes as some of the most divisive—and dangerous—moments in South Park history.
| Number of Seasons | Number of Episodes | Production House | IMDb Rating | Rotten Tomatoes Rrating | Streaming Platform |
| 27 | 332 | South Park Digital Studios | 8.7 | 80% | Paramount+ |
Which one of these episodes cracked you up the most? Or maybe pushed the line a little too far? And, do you ever actually get offended by the way the show takes its shots? Let us know in the comments.
