10 Most Controversial South Park Moments

It’s a little surprising that it took South Park so long to dedicate a whole episode to the state of affairs in China, but when they did, they went in two-footed. Band In China is a two pronged attack on the economic powerhouse: Stan’s band is the subject of a biopic whose content is heavily dictated to appease Chinese standards, while Randy finds himself locked up in a brutal jail as a political prisoner.

The episode attacks human rights in China, as well as Hollywood’s complicity, with a pointedness rarely seen in the show. There are no funny characters on the other side to give a bit of personality to the Chinese government.

Unsurprisingly, this did not go down well at all, with China taking the step to immediately ban South Park. Stone and Parker, who presumably expected such a reaction, quickly issued a sarcastic mock-apology, which has done little to mend fences.

The episode was screened in a busy Hong Kong street by way of protest, but it’s unlikely Comedy Central will be exporting to this economy any time soon. It’s a rare example of action actually being taken against the show - not that the creators will likely care too much.