This week, the former president of the United States, donald trumpcarried out an unexpected marketing action by working for a few hours as an employee of one of the largest fast-food chains in the world, the McDonald’s. The event was widely documented and generated a series of viral videos on social media, where Trump can be seen frying potatoes and delivering orders directly to the drive-thru.
The former president, known for his communication and self-promotion skills, managed, once again, to attract the public’s attention, using experiential marketing to bring his image closer to a more popular and accessible narrative. But this advertising move was also the target of satire and parody, especially by those who have used it as inspiration before: The Boys.
The connection to The Boys
The successful series of Prime Video, The Boyswasted no time and took the opportunity to create a new parody involving donald trump. This time, the target of the satire was his iconic supervillain, Homelander. Known for his megalomaniacal attitudes and dangerous charisma, Homelander is a clear analogy to political figures who abuse their power and influence to obtain advantages, regardless of the consequences for others.
Like Trump, Homelander is a polarizing figure, and the series uses his character to openly criticize contemporary politics and the cult of personality. The parody video quickly gained popularity on social media, showing how pop culture and politics are increasingly intertwined.
#TheBoys mocks Donald Trump’s publicity stunt at McDonald’s 🍟
“Homelander dreamed of working at his local Vought A Burger. Recently, his wish came true, as Vought shut down a restaurant and staged pre-selected customers, so Homelander could ‘serve’ ‘people’ ‘food’” pic.twitter.com/YGAdCaCUy9
— Culture Crave 🎃 (@CultureCrave) October 23, 2024
The Boys: Subverting the world of superheroes
The Boys is an original series from Prime Videocreated by Eric Kripkewhich stands out for subverting the traditional concept of superheroes. Unlike conventional heroes, The Boys’ superpowered characters, called “Supes,” are controlled by a capitalist industry that profits from their actions, regardless of social or moral impact.
The series addresses themes such as corruption, power, violence and mass manipulation, creating a sharp critique of the model of celebrity and authority that often permeates modern politics. In this sense, the figure of Donald Trump and his political trajectory serve as inspiration for many of the discussions that the series proposes, especially through the character Homelander.
Homelander: The supervillain inspired by political figures
Homelander, the main antagonist of The Boysis often compared to authoritarian leaders and political figures who use fear and propaganda to manipulate public opinion. The character is the embodiment of the idea that absolute power can corrupt absolutely, which makes him a direct parallel to leaders like donald trumpwho built his political career around a populist and polarizing discourse.
In the series, Homelander is portrayed as a hero in the public eye, but behind the cameras, he is a cruel and calculating figure, willing to do anything to maintain his popularity and power. This contrast between public image and private actions is one of the central points of the social criticism that The Boys brings to light.
Prime Video and the success of The Boys
The Boys is one of the most popular series in Prime Videoand its success is due, in large part, to its bold and innovative approach to the superhero genre. Instead of portraying the Supes as infallible and altruistic figures, the series portrays them as flawed individuals, controlled by an unscrupulous corporation, the Vought Internationalwhich profits from its images and actions.
The plot subverts the public’s expectations, presenting a narrative where the heroes are, in fact, villains in disguise, and the real heroes are ordinary citizens who fight against the system. This made The Boys a smash hit, especially in an era where audiences are increasingly cynical about authority figures.
Criticism of capitalism in the series
One of the central themes of The Boys It is a critique of capitalism and the commodification of everything, including people and their powers. The series presents a world where superheroes are controlled by contracts, sponsors and public opinion, living in a society where image is worth more than morality.
This aspect of the series has strong parallels with contemporary society, where politicians, celebrities and public figures such as donald trumpare shaped and marketed as products, often to the detriment of ethical and social values.
The repercussions of the Homelander parody
The satire involving Homelander and donald trump It’s not the first time that The Boys uses contemporary political figures as inspiration for his criticisms. The series had already made allusions to real and political events, creating a bridge between fiction and reality.
With the new parody, fans of The Boys saw an opportunity to laugh at the similarities between the supervillain and Trump, especially at a time when the former president is trying to rebuild his public image after a series of controversies.
The relationship between politics and pop culture
The interaction between politics and pop culture, as evidenced by The Boys, shows how the boundaries between entertainment and reality are increasingly blurred. Figures like donald trumpwhich were previously seen only in the field of politics, are now part of a larger narrative, where their gestures and actions are widely analyzed and criticized in different media, including series and films.
This fusion of political themes with entertainment is not new, but it has gained strength in recent years, especially with the emergence of streaming platforms like Prime Videowhich allow the creation of bolder and more critical content.
The Boys’ trajectory on Prime Video
Since its debut, The Boys became one of the most watched series on Prime Videoattracting both comic book fans and a wider audience interested in its social and political critiques. The series already has several seasons available, and expectations for the future are high.
The release of the fifth and final season is only scheduled for 2026, but fans are already eager to see how the plot will conclude and what new social and political criticisms the series will bring to light.
Donald Trump’s influence on pop culture
donald trump He has always had a strong presence in pop culture, even before his entry into politics. His charismatic and controversial figure has always attracted media attention, and he has been parodied on several occasions. However, with his rise to the presidency of the United States, his impact on entertainment and politics increased significantly.
Series like The Boys use this polarizing figure to create stories that reflect the fears and concerns of contemporary society, making satire a powerful tool of social criticism.
The Boys and the future of superhero series
With his unique and critical approach, The Boys redefined the superhero genre, showing that there is room for stories that challenge the status quo and provoke deep reflections on politics, power and morality. The series established itself as a landmark in the Prime Videoand his influence will likely be felt for years to come, both in the world of entertainment and in politics.
The cultural impact of The Boys
The series The Boys goes beyond mere entertainment and has become a platform to discuss relevant issues in today’s society. When satirizing figures like donald trump and by criticizing the capitalist system and celebrity culture, the series manages to unite action, drama and social criticism in one package, captivating and making the audience reflect.
Summary for those in a hurry:
- donald trump participated in a marketing campaign in McDonald’swhere he worked for a few hours.
- The series The Boysfrom Prime Videoparodied the event through the character Homelander.
- The Boys is known for subverting the superhero genre by criticizing capitalism and politics.
- Homelander, the series’ villain, is inspired by polarizing political figures such as donald trump.
- The series is a success in Prime Video and already has several seasons available, with the last scheduled for 2026.
- The Boys uses satire to criticize power, corruption and the influence of the media in modern society.
Source: Atrevida
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
