South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have discussed the legal issues their show often faces amid the controversy attached to their roast of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
The writing duo admit they've previously written episodes with the intention of 'getting sued' and explain how the majority of backlash to some of their more controversial episodes often comes from those who consider themselves right-wing.
The Comedy Central cartoon has been back in the spotlight once again this month, thanks to the long-running series poking fun at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
This week, the royal couple broke their silence their on numerous royal expert opinions and claims that they are pursuing legal action over the now-infamous episode - with a spokesperson for the couple slamming the rumours as "nonsense".
Speaking on this week's episode of Basic!, a podcast series looking back on the glory days of basic cable TV, Trey and Matt recall some of the controversy their cartoon creation creates and why they often purposely encourage it.
The duo admitted to the podcast's hosts Doug Herzog and Jen Chaney that when it comes to backlash they found surprising over the years, "there are so many [moments] we can't even remember."
"It was all coming from the right, we were considered counter culture," they explain during the interview. "The Catholic League are always on our arse - it kind of always came from that side."
Talk then turned to South Park's infamous episodes centred around Tom Cruise and his controversial faith Scientology, titled Trapped in the Closet and Coming Out of the Closet.
"Everyone knew Scientology was so litigious. People in Hollywood were scared of Scientology at the time because they would just sue you" Trey and Matt recall when looking back on how the episode came about.
The duo went on to explain how their 2020 MTV Movie Awards short, spoofing Russell Crowe's Gladiator and John Travolta's Battlefield: Earth, led to Scientologist Isaac Hayes (Chef) asking if a rep from The Church of Scientology could see the short before it aired.
Matt and Trey recall "letting the clock run out" when it came to sending a preview and how it resulted in becoming "the first time we got into a thing with Scientology".
"I think that got us going. The Tom Cruise episode was really about getting sued," the South Park creators go on to reveal.
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"I mean, poking openly litigious people and seeing where the line is and what you can say. They picked a fight with us and we just went with it."
"That episode is what that is about - they bullied Hollywood and scared people into [fearing] saying the word scientology."
The South Park episode that has got everyone talking aired last week, titled The World-Wide Privacy Tour, and centrated around the woes of a 'fictional' ginger prince and his wife.
Harry and Meghan were mercilessly mocked in the show, as many celebrities often are, as the Prince and Princess of Canada on a "worldwide privacy tour".
One of the cartoon’s main characters, Stan referred to the Harry and Meghan-like cartoons as the "dumb prince and his stupid wife," while another character named Kyle moaned about the private jet parked outside the pair's home.
In light of the episode, there were some reports claiming they were considering legal action but their spokesperson reportedly said "this is baseless and boring" in a statement given to Newsweek.
"It’s all frankly nonsense. Totally baseless, boring reports," the spokesperson told People .
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