Fact check: What celebrities have actually sued South Park for parody episodes?

1. Summary of the results

Despite South Park's extensive history of celebrity parodies, there have been remarkably few actual lawsuits against the show. The only confirmed legal action was a copyright infringement case by Brownmark Films regarding the "What What (In The Butt)" video parody, which South Park ultimately won ^[1]. While Tom Cruise came close to legal action over the Scientology episode, he ultimately did not pursue it ^[1].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

• The show's creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, have developed a strategic approach to avoiding legal challenges through careful use of parody and First Amendment protections ^[2].
• Celebrities have shown a wide range of reactions to their portrayals, from anger to amusement ^[2].
• The creators sometimes intentionally provoke potential lawsuits, showing confidence in their legal position ^[3].
• Recent examples include Meghan and Harry, where rumors of legal action were officially dismissed as "baseless nonsense" by their spokesperson ^[3].
• Other notable celebrities who have been parodied include Jennifer Lopez and Barbra Streisand, though none pursued legal action ^[2].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question itself might suggest that celebrity lawsuits against South Park are common, when in fact:

• The show has successfully avoided major legal conflicts through careful use of parody laws and First Amendment protections ^[2].
• While many celebrities have been offended by their portrayals, this rarely translates into actual legal action ^[2].
• The show's continued ability to parody celebrities without significant legal consequences demonstrates the strength of parody protections in U.S. law, rather than a lack of celebrity opposition ^{[2] [1]}.