'South Park' Creators Respond to Network Censorship

By PopEater Staff Posted Apr 22nd 2010 11:00PM

Following violent threats from a New York group called Revolution Muslim, Comedy Central opted to censor portions of a controversial 'South Park' episode featuring the Prophet Muhammad characterized in a bear suit. The show bleeped the words "Prophet Muhammad" and covered the character's face with a block reading "Censored." Fans were understandably disappointed, with some blaming the two men who created the show.

However, 'South Park' producers Trey Parker and Matt Stone pointed out in a statement Thursday that they had nothing to do with the censorship, saying it "wasn't some meta-joke on our part."

"In the 14 years we've been doing South Park we have never done a show that we couldn't stand behind. We delivered our version of the show to Comedy Central and they made a determination to alter the episode. It wasn't some meta-joke on our part. Comedy Central added the bleeps. In fact, Kyle's customary final speech was about intimidation and fear. It didn't mention Muhammad at all but it got bleeped too. We'll be back next week with a whole new show about something completely different and we'll see what happens to it."

Revolution Muslim alluded on its Web site earlier this week that the actions of Stone and Parker could earn them a fate like filmmaker Theo Van Gogh, who was murdered in Amsterdam in 2004 as vengeance for a film investigating the abuse of Muslim women in parts of Islamic society.

"We have to warn Matt and Trey that what they are doing is stupid and they will probably wind up like Theo Van Gogh for airing this show," the post reads. "This is not a threat, but a warning of the reality of what will likely happen to them."

Abu Talhah al Amrikee, the author of the diatribe, told FOX, "It's not a threat, but it really is a likely outcome. They're going to be basically on a list in the back of the minds of a large number of Muslims. It's just the reality."

Though they claim the post was not a threat, the website posted the addresses of Comedy Central's New York office and the California production studio where 'South Park' is made.

The episode, which was the show's 201st, is not currently available for streaming. "We do not have network approval to stream our original version of the show," the creators wrote on SouthParkStudios.com. For those who did see it on-air, Muhammad appeared on-screen with a black box over him, since Muslims consider physical representation of their prophet to be blasphemous.

When the aforementioned bear costume is removed, it reveals none other than Santa Claus.

Comedy Central confirmed on Thursday that they had added more bleeps and were not giving permission for the episode to run on the show's website.

Comedy Central declined PopEater's request for comment on the situation.

Below, see Bill O'Reilly's FOX report.

Tags: matt stone, South Park, trey parker

Comments

(635)

Thursday 22 April

By uspijr

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Oh boy we are really afraid of the muslims......picture that!!

By k

So, why isn't Abu Talhah al Amrikee under arrest for making terroristic threats? He says, here is a terroristic threat that is not a terroristic threat. What is he, Bill Clinton, "it depends on what is is..."
And the censors are a bunch of cowards. How about some terroristic threats against them?

Saturday 24 April

By Cindy

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Faith is the absence of critical thought. It is shameful that these destructive Christians and all other 'tithers' who keep up this fraud continue to war against each other. It's all nonsense, and yet politically mandated, for the Prez and anyone else in office to declare themselves as 'Christians' to get ahead in our nation. And in any other area where one wants to 'get ahead'.

By Christian

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If you aren't afraid, you are blind. Open your eyes you fool!!

By like me or not I dont care

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I'm afraiad of no one but your ma'amie

By fred

From New York if there gonna live here everybody gets made fun of thats why its stupid to let any in.France has had big problems with them.Weres the womans groups now i seen all the peace stickers on the war lmao

And Holland there causeing all kinds of sht they no who they are.

By Mike

Screw the "Revolution Muslim" group and the camel they rode in on. How dare the network cave in to a radical muslim group.

By Ron

Know your enemy! Lock and Load!

By Barb

Yeah, and they didn't just kill that other guy, they sliced his throat, beheaded and they put two knives in his chest attached to a note. And yet, this group lives in the shadow of the Twin Towers.

By HOLA

"JIHAD IS EVIL" Matt and Trey did not do anything wrong, they showed what the world already knows. its true isn't it that all those muslim revolutionaries do is threat and kill people? God be with Matt and Trey!!!!

They get anything off here they will get rid of all of them.

By Shannon

Good grief! Would someone PLEASE shut these muslim radicals up once and for all? Looks like we will have to wait for the box set to see the REAL episode! I applaud Matt and Trey for having the balls to say what they want. Don't get all fussy - they are equal opportunity offenders! Love them!

By Jessica

I agree and I also feel it's unfair that everyone should cater to them. Every relgion has been made fun of by South Park and other forms of media but the Muslims are untouchable. I think if you have beliefs in a religion you should already know there will be persecution.

By matt

what do you mean "will SOMEONE" shut these muslims up....why don't you if you think its so easy....you do it.

By cool rad pipe

Yeah they hate God believers too I'll say they have been fair about that

By i'm a whiney five year old

honestly muslims need to learn how to take a joke.. get over it crybabies! obviously everyone is going to have differing opinions, so let matt and trey have theirs!!

By Marilynn

ISN'T IT TOO BAD THAT THE AMERICANS CAN BE MADE FUN, USED TO GET EVERY OTHER COUNTRY OUT OF TROUBLE AND YET THE FIRST THING THOSE OTHER PEOPLE LIVING IN "OUR" COUNTRY DON'T LIKE ARE JOKES MADE ABOUT THEM.. GET A LIFE, LAUGH AT YOURSELVES LIKE WE DO OR GET OUT.............

Exactly!!

By Sandy

South Park makes fun of everyone as stated in the the 200th episode. I am tolerant of everyone, but this time Muslims have gone to far. South Park has made fun of them in the past and they need to get over it. South Park rules, respect my authority!

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