Courtesy of Comedy Central
"We knew it was risky," says Walter Levitt, chief marketing officer for Comedy Central.
South Park is still the master of ruffling feathers.
In an effort to promote the 20th season, which premiered Sept. 14, mobile billboards have been placed in seven locations around the country depicting scenes that coincide with the trucks' placements.
The marketing ploy did not go over so well with three locations: the White House, the Lincoln Memorial and the Church of Scientology.
"We knew it was risky," 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."
The billboard in front of the White House featured a cartoon President Barack and Michelle Obama. The Scientology truck featured a scene from the infamous 2005 episode "Trapped in the Closet" in which the church and its most famous follower, Tom Cruise, were skewered. All billboards stated: "We've Been There."
"In some cases, the locals were not pleased to have us outside their locations and asked us to leave, but that was all expected, and we completely understand why," Levitt said, confirming "personnel" from the three aforementioned locations asked the trucks to leave the area.
"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 celebrated the 20th season," Levitt said.
A request for comment from the Church of Scientology was not immediately returned.
A full list of locations, including outside of Trump Tower in New York City, are below:
Colorado: South Park and Casa Bonita
Salt Lake City: Mormon Church Headquarters
Washington D.C.: Lincoln Memorial and the White House (above)
Silicon Valley: Facebook Headquarters
New York: Trump Tower (campaign headquarters, below) and Hillary Clinton's N.Y. headquarters
Los Angeles: Church of Scientology, Whole Foods, Hooters, PF Changs, KFC
Buffalo: Canadian Border
Check out the trucks at every location in the slideshow below:
South Park
