South Park mocks China, NBA after series censored

Reuters Videos

(SOUNDBITE) (English) CLIP FROM SOUTH PARK EPISODE "BAND IN CHINA":

STAN CHARACTER: "I can't even think with the Chinese government censoring everything I write!"

The creators of South Park have issued a sorry-but-not-sorry sort of apology to China after an episode critiquing Chinese censorship was, reportedly, itself censored.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) CLIP FROM SOUTH PARK EPISODE "BAND IN CHINA":

STAN CHARACTER: "We live in a time where the only movies that us American kids go see are ones that are approved by China."

JIMMY CHARACTER: "Yeah, it's like China is the new MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America)."

That episode was originally released on October 2nd, a satire over how Hollywood and other Western businesses have tried to tailor themselves for China's vast consumer market.

It also took a dig at China's justice system and Winnie the Pooh. Yes, the cartoon bear is sometimes used by protesters to mock President Xi Jinping, who they say looks like him.

Reuters searched Chinese video streaming sites after news reports that the episode was pulled there, and couldn't find any copies of the episode that worked.

And this was the response by South Park's creators, quote:

"Like the NBA, we welcome the Chinese censors into our homes and into our hearts. We too love money more than freedom and democracy," and then, "Long Live the Great Communist Party."

In other words:

(SOUNDBITE) (English) CLIP FROM SOUTH PARK EPISODE "BAND IN CHINA":

BUSINESSMAN CHARACTER: "We're trying to break into the market and get the Chinese people as customers."

RANDY CHARACTER: "Oh! Hey, f--k you!"

(SOUNDBITE) (English) HOUSTON ROCKETS GUARD, JAMES HARDEN, SAYING:

"Uh yeah, we apologize, you know."

The NBA line is referencing the uproar in the United States around the National Basketball Association, where a team manager quickly took down a tweet that supported the protests in Hong Kong.

South Park's creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are well known for pushing boundaries in their comedies.

China's Cyberspace Administration, the agency that oversees internet regulations, did not respond to requests for comment.