Almost twenty years on from when it first stormed onto our screens, South Park is still the master of pissing people off.
As promotion for its landmark 20th season, mobile billboards have been placed in seven sensitive locations around the U.S, reports the Hollywood Reporter.
Predictably, the marketing ploy didn’t go down too well at three of the chosen locations, with the White House, the Lincoln Memorial and the Church of Scientology all taking issue.
We've Been There. #SouthPark20 pic.twitter.com/IChNMFEHTZ
— South Park (@SouthPark) September 27, 2016
Walter Levitt, chief marketing officer for Comedy Central, told The Hollywood Reporter:
We knew some locations might not be pleased to have us out there, but we thought this is a perfect way to celebrate everything the series has covered in its 19 seasons.
We've Been There. #SouthPark20 pic.twitter.com/ZnAx9Xfobx
— South Park (@SouthPark) September 27, 2016
The billboard in front of the White House featured Barack and Michelle Obama while the Scientology board featured a scene from the infamously brilliant 2005 episode Trapped in the Closet featuring everyone’s favourite disciple of the crackpot cult – Tom Cruise.
Levitt confirmed that ‘personnel’ from the three locations had asked the trucks to leave and that, in other cases, locals were not exactly pleased to host them.
He added:
We did this stunt because we thought it was a great way to remind South Park fans of all the amazing moments of the past 19 seasons and truly a perfect way to celebrate the 20th season.
Plus, you know, it’s really funny.