Culture 3 min read By Trevor Kendall
South Park Targets Tech Billionaires in New Pest Control Episode
The long-running animated satire returns with a new episode that takes aim at AI data centers and the billionaires behind them, reflecting growing unease over artificial intelligence in entertainment.
South Park is turning its satirical eye on the tech industry, with a new episode that depicts billionaires being exterminated like household pests. The long-running animated series, which recently rebranded itself as South America in a jab at President Donald Trump, aired its sixth episode of season 29 on Wednesday, September 30, on Comedy Central.
In the episode, the character Butters becomes frustrated when AI data centers begin opening near his home. He resorts to hiring a pest control service to deal with the billionaires responsible for the facilities. A promotional clip shows Butters answering the door to a pest control worker who says, «I understand you've got some billionaires in your backyard.» The child replies, «Yeah, I swear there's more of these stupid billionaires every day!»
The episode reflects a growing cultural distrust of artificial intelligence, particularly in the entertainment industry. The rise of AI has sparked fierce debate among filmmakers and artists. Director Kane Parsons, Guillermo del Toro, and even Pope Leo XIV have publicly condemned the use of the technology. Conversely, Martin Scorsese, Neill Blomkamp, Brad Pitt, and Jodie Foster have either endorsed or used AI in their forthcoming projects, drawing criticism from some quarters for their support.
South Park has made the Trump administration a frequent target in recent seasons, depicting the President in a relationship with Satan, having a micro penis, and having sex with Vice President J.D. Vance. The White House responded to those jokes by arguing that the cartoon «hasn't been relevant for over 20 years.» The show's decision to rename itself South America was widely interpreted as a direct response to Trump's political rhetoric.
The latest episode also arrives amid broader confusion over AI's role in media. Recently, an AI «actor» named Tilly Norwood created confusion during an interview with Piers Morgan when the computer simulation began speaking in Cantonese for no apparent reason. The incident highlighted the unsettling and often unpredictable nature of AI-generated content.
New episodes of South Park air on Comedy Central in the US, with UK viewers able to watch on Paramount+. The show continues to use its platform to comment on contemporary issues, blending absurd humor with sharp social critique. By targeting tech billionaires and AI data centers, the series taps into anxieties about automation, wealth inequality, and the changing landscape of entertainment.
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