South Park creators announce the world’s first DeepFake sattire TV show
DeepFakes and synthetic content will continue to redefine how we make content and the tools we use to make it.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2020) 'South Park creators announce the world’s first DeepFake sattire TV show', 311 Institute, 15 November. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/south-park-creators-announce-the-worlds-first-deepfake-sattire-tv-show/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Wherever you look at the moment it seems increasingly difficult to avoid fake, or digital humans, DeepFakes, virtual influencers, and virtual this or virtual that, that’s probably because we’re witnessing the birth and rise of a new megatrend.
Now, jumping on the synthetic content, or fake content, bandwagon the creators of South Park have announced they’ve launched a weekly satire series called Sassy Justice that uses DeepFake tech, check it out below.
Matt Stone and Trey Parker joined forces with Peter Serafinowicz (Guardians Of The Galaxy, Shaun Of The Dead) for the new project.
Its first instalment just landed on YouTube and features deepfakes of Donald and Ivanka Trump, the president’s senior advisor Jared Kushner, Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg and Michael Caine. And whereas back in the 1980’s satirists would have used badly constructed puppets to mimic famous people now new tech lets them be the famous person IRL instead, which is just another example of how quickly technology has evolved in a short space of time.
“Fred Sassy is an American Consumer Advocate and reporter for the Cheyenne news at 9, a local TV station in Cheyenne, Wyoming,” an official description reads. “On his weekly show, Sassy Justice, Fred goes to battle for the common man in his hometown.
“This week, he’s uncovering the dangers behind manipulated videos that are increasingly popping up on the internet.”
Deepfakes, like this one of Elon Musk that was used to bomb a Zoom call a while ago, make use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) software to combine and superimpose existing images and videos of a person to make it appear that they’ve said or done something they have not.
“The times they are a-changing,” a voiceover states at the start of the 15-minute episode. “Scammers are finding new ways to take advantage of you, the consumer. Now, with a technology called deep fake, you can get screwed over and lied to in ways never before possible.”
One viewer in the comments section wrote: “So this is what Matt Stone and Trey Parker have been up to this year.”
Another added: “This is how you do satire in 2020.” And this is just the beginning …
What this means for your organisation
DeepFakes go mainstream.
Well-known creators now use DeepFakes in regular shows. The tools are cheap and widely available. Expect synthetic media in ads, news and entertainment.
Any face can be borrowed.
Public figures can be shown saying things they never said. Executives and brands are just as exposed. Monitor for fakes of your leaders.
Literacy is the defence.
Satire that explains DeepFakes helps people spot them. Staff and customers need the same awareness. Train teams to verify unusual video or calls.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- How would we respond to a DeepFake of our chief executive?
- Do our staff know how to spot manipulated video?
- Could we use synthetic media responsibly ourselves?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
DeepFakes and synthetic content will continue to redefine how we make content and the tools we use to make it.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
Read full bio
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
What future do you need to see?
Choose one to get started on AI and intelligence and the future of your organisation.
Sources and further reading
- South park nme.com
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 15 November 2020. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2020). South Park creators announce the world’s first DeepFake sattire TV show. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/south-park-creators-announce-the-worlds-first-deepfake-sattire-tv-show/
You are welcome to quote this article with credit and a link to the original.