The Worldwide Privacy Tour

"The Worldwide Privacy Tour"
South Park episode
Episode no.	Season 26 Episode 2
Directed by	Trey Parker
Written by	Trey Parker
Production code	2602
Original air date	February 15, 2023 (2023-02-15)

"The Worldwide Privacy Tour" is the second episode of the twenty-sixth season of the American animated television series South Park, and the 321st episode of the series overall. The episode was first announced on February 13, 2023, and premiered on February 15, 2023.

A parody of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's decision to step back as senior members of the House of Windsor and their subsequent rebranding, the episode's depicts a visit to the town of South Park by the Prince of Canada and his wife, who say they are seeking privacy and seclusion, which brings them into conflict with fourth grader Kyle Broflovski.

Plot

A grief-stricken Ike Broflovski watches the televised funeral for the Queen of Canada, who died four months ago. Ike's monopolizing of the computer prevents his older brother Kyle from playing an online video game with his friends, leaving him feeling left out. Butters Stotch tells Kyle that he needs brand management and takes him to CumHammer Brand Management, where an agent named Mr. Davis suggests possible brands, which all include the word "victim".

The Prince of Canada and his wife, who have been bashing the monarchy, go on a book tour to promote his memoir and to demand privacy. They move into the house across from the Broflovskis. Though they say they want privacy, their noisy activities, such as playing drums, are disruptive to Kyle. When he complains, they scream that he is violating their privacy.

Using Mr. Davis's suggested brands, Kyle tells his friends that he is a victim and is working on himself, but they react with indifference. He also persistently complains about the royal couple, prompting his friends to distance themselves from him. When Kyle's house is plastered with magazine covers featuring the Prince's wife, he tries a brand that says "nothing bothers him". Failing to get a reaction from him, the wife accuses Kyle of victimizing her because she is "ethnic". The Prince then tries to provoke Kyle by exposing himself to Kyle, who continues to ignore him.

The next day, Kyle walks into school with a more positive demeanor but learns Bebe Stevens is beating up Butters, who launched an abusively misogynistic tirade against her per his "strong and assertive" brand. At CumHammer's office, Kyle finds the Prince's wife consulting with Mr. Davis on how to retaliate against him. Kyle says that when one tries to engineer their own public image, it reduce them to a performer rather than a human being. Hearing this, the Prince resolves to do away with media appearances in favor of a more normal life, realizing what is within oneself that defines a person, and not commodifying oneself as a product. When his wife does not respond,he flips open the top half of her head, and inside finds only a chasm from which his voice echoes. The Prince leaves CumHammer without her.

Kyle allows Ike his repeat viewings of the Queen's funeral, realizing that this is who Ike is and that he does not care if this negatively affects his standing with his friends. Kyle's friends show up at his door and invite him to play outside to relieve his stress. They go to the local basketball court, where the Prince asks if he can play. When they assent, he sets up his drum set on the edge of the court, playing music as the boys play basketball.

Reception

John Schwarz, writing for Bubbleblabber.com rated the episode a 8.5 out of 10, and stated the episode reaffirmed South Park's status as "the undisputed king of adult animated comedy", noting that it got "people talking, pissing off celebrities, and making tons of money in the process while doing so" and "week over week, 'The Worldwide Privacy Tour' actually has gone up in the ratings from South Park’s premiere episode of 'Cupid Ye'”.

Tom Peck, writing in The Independent, opined that the episode "[ripped] the absolute piss out of them [the Duke and Duchess of Sussex]" and "is absolutely hilarious, a brutalizing satire delivered with the kind of economy and precision that has kept South Park on air for fully 25 years." Peck concluded, "The problem with South Park getting their claws into them [the Duke and Duchess] is not a small one. It makes it clear that they have turned themselves into a joke, both in their old home and their new one."

Journalists speculated that the episode was inspired by the Duchess of Sussex's remarks when interviewed by Oprah Winfrey; when asked whether the Duke and Duchess should expect a loss of privacy in exchange for royal status, Meghan replied, "I think everyone has a basic right to privacy. Basic. We're not talking about anything that anybody else wouldn't expect."

Response from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex

Shortly after the episode aired, the Duchess of Sussex was reportedly "upset and overwhelmed" and "annoyed" by the episode and refused to watch it in its entirety. A spokesperson for the couple denied rumors that she and Prince Harry planned to file a lawsuit over the episode.

See also

• Monarchy of Canada § In popular culture

External links

• "The Worldwide Privacy Tour" Full Episode at South Park Studios
• "The Worldwide Privacy Tour" at IMDb