‘South Park’ Absolutely Eviscerates Disney’s Attempts At Diversity

South Park creators Matt Parker and Trey Stone never shy away from controversial topics. The show has targeted racism, homophobia, political correctness, and religion. It went so far in its episode on Scientology that the voice of the character Chef, Isaac Hayes, who was a member of the Church, quit the show in protest. But its biting humor is both relevant and caustic as it calls out the hypocrisy of the day. That’s probably why the show has been on the air since 1997.

But now, Parker and Stone have, once again, turned their satirical pitchforks toward the Walt Disney Company with their latest special episode on Paramount Plus, Joining the Panderverse. This isn’t the first time that South Park has gone after Disney. In 2019’s Band in China, South Park criticized Disney and other companies for doing business in China by compromising their morals, and in Disney’s case, changing large portions of its movies to appease Chinese censors. South Park has also taken shots at Disney Plus, Disney’s handling of Star Wars and Marvel, and the massive cost at Walt Disney World. 

Credit: Disney+

Related: Disney is Accused of Being ‘Woke’. What Exactly Does That Mean? 

But this episode took direct shots at Disney CEO Bob Iger and President of LucasFilms Kathleen Kennedy. So, this might be a new low in the fight between the Disney Company and its cultural nemesis, South Park.

‘Joining the Panderverse’

In the episode, foul-mouthed Eric Cartman begins to worry that Disney executives are lurking in his bedroom and are considering replacing him and his friends with a “diverse women complaining about the patriarchy.” Of course, Stan, Kyle, and Kenny don’t believe him, and he is forced to deal with the problem himself. Cartman quickly realizes that he’s not dreaming, but he sees into the “Panderverse.”

Enter Disney. The Pander Stone is an ancient piece of A.I. technology that has enabled Disney to remake all of its older movies, but each time, the company panders to a more diverse audience. Enter Disney CEO Bob Iger, who is asked: “Isn’t it possible that we here at Disney pandered so much that we’ve opened a doorway into the Panderverse?”

Credit: Disney

Kathleen Kennedy then joins the conversation, but it’s Cartman in a wig. Her response to any issues that Disney faces is to “put a chick in it and make it lame.”

Ultimately, Cartman and Kennedy come to a mutual understanding that closes the Panderverse. She apologizes for “ruining” the movies that so many people love, and Cartman apologizes for sending her so much hate mail.

The episode is classic South Park, but this time, the subject of their ire is the Walt Disney Company and its attempts at diversifying its classic films.

Disney’s Issues

Nearly everyone has criticized Disney for its attempt to remake its classic films with a more diverse cast. Disney was criticized for casting an African American actress, Haley Bailey, as Ariel in its live-action The Little Mermaid (2023). Critics have also been critical of Disney’s decision to cast Rachel Zegler, who is Latina, as Snow White in the live-action version of the film. Disney also removed the seven dwarfs and instead replaced them with seven “magical creatures.” Disney announced this week that the release of Snow White would be postponed to 2024. 

Credit: Disney

On the other side, Disney has been criticized for not going far enough. Rather than creating original stories with diverse characters, Disney has simply tried to insert characters into established franchises or included LGBTQ+ characters in “blink and you’ll miss it” moments in its films.

Either way, only going half in the Walt Disney Company has managed to anger both sides of the argument.

The latest episode from South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone is currently streaming on Paramount Plus.

We will continue to update this story at Disney Fanatic.