South Park’s Mr Mackey Voice Backlash Explained (Is It A New Actor?)

Comedy Central’s South Park just started its 25th season — but many fans weren’t happy about the change the show brought to Mr. Mackey’s voice. While Mr. Mackey played a minimal role in South Park season 25 episode 1, “Pajama Day,” the marked change in Mr. Mackey’s iconic voice was almost impossible to miss. Here’s a breakdown of the backlash and the reasoning behind the change.

Mr. Mackey has been an iconic character since his first appearance in South Park season 1 episode 9, “Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo.” As the guidance counselor at South Park Elementary, Mr. Mackey makes frequent appearances in the hijinks of South Park, providing advice for both children and adults alike. Voiced by South Park creator Trey Parker, Mr. Mackey is best known for the reassuring “m’kay“s that end almost all of his sentences. Mr. Mackey is also known for frequently breaking out in song — when it comes to Mr. Mackey’s character, his voice is an important part of who he is.

In “Pajama Day,” however, Mr. Mackey’s voice is notably deeper and a tad slower than it usually is, and fans definitely took notice. Many took to internet platforms like Twitter and Reddit in search of answers, though no official reasoning has been given for the change as of yet. While Mr. Mackey may sound different, one thing that hasn’t changed is his voice actor — as of “Pajama Day,” Trey Parker is still credited with the South Park role — a role he’s now been playing for 25 years. As of the South Park: Post Covid special, the most recent South Park installment, Mr. Mackey’s voice sounded as it usually does, causing fans to question the sudden change.

Theories surrounding the change have been circulating the internet since the episode aired. Some have attributed the change to a simple issue with sound mixing, as sleuths who have sped up the episode clip claim the edit brings his voice back to normal. While it isn’t likely that the series would make an error like this, Mr. Mackey’s appearance was only very brief, so a slip-up isn’t impossible. Others worry Parker just might not be able to produce Mr. Mackey’s voice anymore. This theory isn’t outside the realm of possibility, as Parker has previously explained he had to alter Eric Cartman’s voice due to the damage it was causing to his throat. After playing a role for so long — and even just voice acting for so long — it’s possible that his voice has changed. Others yet theorize the change was intentional, either to signify the “seriousness” of the scene or because Mr. Mackey’s voice changed due to catching COVID-19. However, these theories aren’t very likely, as there is no evidence pointing to either scenario.

Whether or not Mr. Mackey’s voice change is permanent remains to be seen, as only one episode of South Park season 25 has aired so far. The backlash the new voice received from fans may mean the new voice won’t stick around for long, whether the change was intentional or a missed edit. Mr. Mackey’s voice is a major part of his characterization and his humor, and without it, Mr. Mackey’s brief appearance in South Park season 25 was lukewarm at best. Only future episodes of South Park will reveal if the change to Mr. Mackey will become permanent.

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