It might be hard to imagine Saddam Hussein watching himself in South Park, but this allegedly happened. As the controversial Iraqi figure known for his brutal dictatorship, Hussein was consistently mocked in the Comedy Central animated series and its movie back in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Hussein was depicted in the film South Park: Bigger, Longer And Uncut as the gay boyfriend of Satan who was trying to fulfill a prophecy to take over the world. As one of the most controversial and memorable mocked real-life figures on South Park, the recent portrayal of President Donald Trump mirrors this exact same dynamic.
Matt Stone Alleges That Saddam Hussein Was Shown The 1999 South Park Movie While Captured
South Park creator Matt Stone revealed that he has “good information from the marines on detail in Iraq that they showed Saddam the movie” and that he was forced to watch the film repeatedly (via Telegraph.) This occurred after Hussein was captured in 2003, when he was put on trial for crimes against humanity and sentenced to death.
The portrayal poked fun at Hussein’s power and persona in the most absurd way possible. The idea of this former president of Iraq being forced to watch the outrageous way he was depicted is a bizarre form of poetic justice, where he was humiliated not through warfare but from satire and crude animation.
Stone and his co-creator, Trey Parker, were even given a signed photo of Hussein by the US Army’s 4th Infantry Division, which they described as one of the big highlights of their career. Stone said it’s funny to think of Hussein watching South Park, and the fact that he was shown it multiple times is “really adding insult to injury.”
Saddam Hussein’s South Park Movie Portrayal Isn’t Even Among The Franchise’s Most Controversial Moments
While Saddam Hussein’s appearance in South Park was shocking at the time, it’s barely scratching the surface when it comes to the franchise’s most controversial moments. As a show that repeatedly pushed the boundaries of pop culture by mocking religion, politics, and celebrity culture, it’s hard to think of a notable figure who hasn’t been the target of criticism.
From shining a light on the absurdities of Scientology to sparking outrage as they attempt to depict Muhammad, South Park is unafraid of provoking religious institutions. As one of the most obscene television series ever made, Parker and Stone have managed to say the unsayable countless times, and the show’s reputation as no-holds-barred satire lets them get away with it.
South Park had shied away from blatantly depicting President Donald Trump for the past several years, with Mr. Garrison acting as a placeholder for the politician. However, a recent controversial episode saw Trump appear with the photographic realism once used for Hussein and even featured a humiliating AI-generated campaign video mocking his 2024 presidential run.