‘South Park’ Kicks Off Season 26 Covering Kanye Controversy

by Alexis Gentry · Published February 9, 2023 · Updated September 5, 2023

Tolkien and Cartman during band class in the season 26 premiere episode "Cupid Ye". — Tolkien and Cartman during band class in the season 26 premiere episode “Cupid Ye”.

South Park is back for its 26th season and creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone continue their hilarious storylines for Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny. While the show may now be over a quarter century old, it’s fresh and as topical as ever.

Season 26’s first episode “Cupid Ye” sees Cartman try to repair the bond between BFFs Stan and Kyle after Kyle starts making TikToks with Tolkien. (No, that’s not a typo. If you missed last season, we learned that Token Black’s real name is Tolkien and that everyone in the town assumed it was Token because they’re all a little racist.)

In his effort to help Stan and Kyle become close again, Cartman enlists the help of the little angel/devil on his shoulder Cupid Me, who has devoted himself to Christianity and become Cupid Ye in this episode. Cupid Ye, like the real-life Ye, has some…let’s just say “strong” opinions about Jewish people and starts spreading the rumor that Kyle, the only Jewish kid in school, controls Hollywood. The rest of the town buys into it and starts trying to pitch Kyle movie ideas.

Cupid Ye continues his quest, attempting to brainwash Tolkien and going on TV to perpetuate his rhetoric, though even Cartman seems to think that praising Hitler is going too far. The plan works and Kyle and Tolkien’s friendship starts to fracture, but soon Cupid Ye goes completely unhinged and Cartman begins to worry that maybe his little friend needs to get back on his meds.

Cartman's winged friend Cupid Me goes full Kanye as Cupid Ye in the season 26 premiere. — Cartman’s winged friend Cupid Me goes full Kanye as Cupid Ye in the season 26 premiere.

Naturally, Cupid Ye reaches the height of his power on Valentine’s Day, shooting the kids with arrows of antisemitism instead of love. The kids gang up and attack Kyle for all the endless reboots and IP milking Hollywood has cranked out in the past few years. Only Cartman can stop Cupid Ye, forcing him to take his meds and stop spreading his nonsense.

We get an informative “I’ve learned something today” speech from Kyle explaining how Hollywood works, but because it’s South Park, it backfires spectacularly with everyone deciding that Kyle should actually run Hollywood. The closing credits include a final gag, giving Stone sole credit for the episode.

It’s wild to think that South Park can remain so good for so long when we see many other shows fizzle out before their season counts even hit double digits. Stone and Parker are so comfortable with the world they’ve built that they can shape the story to fit any current topic while still remaining true to the spirit of the show—and that’s no easy feat in a world where the news changes so rapidly. If “Cupid Ye” is any indication, season 26 is sure to live up to the high standards the two have set for themselves over the past two and a half decades.