The series South Park has spoofed Lorde in an episode entitled, “Gluten Free Ebola”.
South Park is an animated comedic series directed at mature or adult audiences. The show first aired in August of 1997 on the American television channel, Comedy Central. And, it is created and produced by Trey Parker and Matt Stone. Over the years, South Park has become known for shock and off-color humor, use of profanity, and satirical humor that tackles a wide range of current event topics. The show has gone on to reach an international audience – it’s shown on television in Australia, New Zealand, India, throughout Europe, and in several Latin American countries.
In 2013, TV Guide ranked the series as the tenth greatest cartoon of all time. And, most recently, in addition to being available to stream episodes online through the South Park website, American viewers are able to stream the entire series if they subscribe to Hulu Plus.
In the last 16 years, creators Parker and Stone have spoofed many celebrities. Notable targets have included: actor Tom Cruise, for rumors surrounding his sexuality; former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, for his environmental activism regarding global warming; actor-director Mel Gibson, following his film The Passion of the Christ; And, Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks, for her bewitching raspy vocals. Other targets have been, singer-actress Barbra Streisand, director James Cameron, pop-singer Britney Spears, and deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
{Spoiler Warning: Continue reading at your own risk, as the rest of the article will include spoilers for the aforementioned episode.}
Seventeen year-old New Zealand singer Lorde shot to success last year with her hit song, Royals. And, she’s become Parker and Stone’s latest target on South Park.
In an episode called “Gluten Free Ebola”, the plot line revolves around Lorde’s celebrity status, and a proposed concert she’ll put on for South Park residents. Early in the episode, viewers learn that the middle-aged male South Park character Randy Marsh works with the New Zealand pop star’s uncle. So, when Lorde is unable to be booked for the concert, Marsh steps up and fills in to close out the episode, according to SPIN. Marsh filling in as “Lorde” jumps around the stage at party singing a jumble of indecipherable phrases and “Lorde, Lorde, Lorde” over and over again,” according to USA Today’s Entertain This!
You can view the entire 22 minute “Gluten Free Ebola” episode, below. But, you don’t have time to view the entire episode, and you still want to see how Lorde was portrayed, skip to the 21 minute mark.
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