Joe Jonas Reflects on Infamous ‘South Park’ Episode: ‘I Was the Only Brother That Loved It’

Joe Jonas has taken a look back at South Park’s famous spotlight of the Jonas Brothers, admitting that he views it as a personal “claim to fame.”

Joe’s comments appear in the new episode of Mythical Kitchen’s Last Meals (via Entertainment Weekly), where he explained to host Josh Scherer that his opinions were not shared by his brothers at the time.

“I think I was the only brother that loved it,” Joe explained. “Our skin was not as thick back then, and I thought it was hilarious, because I watched South Park, and I was like, ‘This is so funny, I know what they’re doing, they make fun of everyone!’ 

“To be made fun of by a comic is usually a sign that they give a s–t, and they care, and it’s funny,” he added. “They really went for us.” 

Joe, along with brothers Kevin and Nick, were spotlighted as part of The Ring, the premiere episode of South Park’s 13th season in March 2009. The episode, which was inspired by the release of Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience just weeks earlier, sees the fictionalized trio convincing their fans to wear purity rings at the behest of Disney mascot Mickey Mouse.

However, Jonas agreed that he was able to see the humor in the South Park parody, noting that the band weren’t the specific focus, but rather it was “Boss Mickey” that was in the sights of the creators.

“I mean, what an honor to get my ass kicked by Mickey,” Jonas added. “I think it’s one of my favorite episodes. And later on, now, we just laugh. We love that. I think it’s so great. Definitely a claim to fame for me.”

The recent comments from Joe align with Nick’s own from 2016, in which he addressed the episode in a Reddit ‘Ask Me Anything’ session.

“When it first came out I didn’t think it was funny to be honest, but probably because I was actually living all of that in real time and so it just made it harder to come and live your life as a young person and have all that going on,” he explained. “But years later and once the purity rings were no longer around, it was very funny to me and I’ve actually watched the episode a few times.”

Joe himself reflected on the episode just months later in his own AMA session, stating he was “so pumped” when it first aired, but conceded that “Nick was really kind of not into watching it.”

“I thought it was the funniest thing at the time and it’s kind of a compliment because obviously if you go to a comedy show and they pick you out and make fun of you, you can’t heckle back, you gotta just take it and enjoy it,” he explained. “And for me I’ve always been a fan and I knew that was kind of a wow we made it moment, and also they were kind of attacking Disney more than me, so I didn’t really feel threatened. 

“Now I watch it back and laugh and Mickey kicked my ass so I won the episode by being beat up by Mickey Mouse.”

Joe’s comments also come just days after the release of his second studio album, Music for People Who Believe in Love, which will be followed in August by the Jonas Brothers’ seventh album, Greetings from Your Hometown.