Emma Sugiyama, Trey Parker’s ex-wife, has captivated the curiosity of many – so let’s learn the story of how they met:
When Parker met Sugiyama, he studied animation at the University of Colorado. They started dating right away, and it felt like a match made in heaven. Two years later, they tied the knot. Sounds like a fairy tale, right?
Fairytales are hardly part of reality, though, as their marriage only lasted two years. But why did Emma divorce Trey? And where is she now?
Today, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about Sugiyama. Let’s dive in!
Who Is Emma Sugiyama?
Emma Sugiyama was born in 1970, making her 54 years old when writing this article. She’s also Japanese and likely a socialite.
Sugiyama prefers keeping her family away from the spotlight. All we know is that her mother was a lawyer while her father was an engineer.
Sugiyama came to the States in 1989; at that point, she was only 19 years old and somehow ended up dating Trey Parker.
3 Rumors About Sugiyama’s Engagement and Wedding
Sugiyama’s relationship with Parker was entirely private, so we can’t say what happened and what didn’t.
That being said, three rumors caught my attention.
1. Clooney May or May Not Have Been Involved
Some people believe that Parker and Sugiyama got engaged in George Clooney’s $100 million mansion in Italy.
I don’t doubt that the property would be a fantastic spot for a fancy party. The Hollywood legend met his wife Amal at a dinner party in that same mansion.
But did Sugiyama and Parker get engaged there? I have my doubts.
On one hand, I think this sort of party would have made the headlines, and I couldn’t find anything solid about it.
On the other hand, Clooney does get along well with Trey Parker and his pal Matt Stone. He’s been supportive of their work so far and helped them get their show, South Park, on air.
All in all, a teeny-tiny part of me hopes the rumor about the engagement party being held in Clooney’s mansion is true.
2. The Ceremony Was Officiated by Norman Milton Lear
While it’s unclear when the couple met or got engaged, they married in 2006. The wedding was in Parker’s home in Hawaii, and the officiant was the late Norman Lear.
Lear had a good friendship with the South Park duo, Parker and Matt. He was also a reverend in the Universal Life Church (ULC). Like that, Trey Parker decided Lear was the man for the job!
3. Trey Parker Sang His Heart Out
Emma Sugiyama married a man with a musical bone. So, I guess she expected a dazzling show at the ceremony.
Sources say that Trey Parker entertained his guests with karaoke renditions of a selection of Neil Diamond songs. Bonus Point: Lear loved the performance!
How are Emma Sugiyama and Trey Parker Part Ways?
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Sugiyama’s marriage to Parker didn’t last very long, and the two got divorced in 2008.
Soon after the breakup, the South Park creator started dating Boogie Tillmon (Yes, that’s her name). Not everyone thinks that this was a coincidence, though.
It’s rumored that an affair with Tillmon was why Parker and Sugiyama’s marriage fell apart. Some even say that this affair was sort of Parker’s “mid-life crisis.”
I’d also like to point out that Tillmon and Parker married in 2014 and split up in 2019. While Parker didn’t have any kids with Sugiyama, he does share a daughter with Tillmon.
Tillmon and Parker remain bizarrely close despite parting ways romantically.
A Potential Reference to Emma Sugiyama in South Park
Hardcore South Park fans will already know this, but Eric Cartman’s mom is based on Parker’s fiance.
Let me explain.
Trey Parker was once engaged to his high-school sweetheart, a girl called Liane. Laine later cheated on him and dumped him. You can see why Parker would want revenge.
For Parker, revenge meant a. writing a musical movie to roast his ex and b and basing the character of Liane Cartman on her.
So, has Trey Parker ever referenced Emma Sugiyama in his long-running sitcom? Maybe.
But if he did, it was nothing like the Liane situation. Go ahead and watch the episode “Ginger Kids” (episode 11 of season 9) and see if you can spot the reference on your own.
And if you don’t have 22 minutes to spare, I’ll tell you the reference.
In the episode, Mr. Foley tells Stan and Kyle that if they want to avoid having ginger-headed kids, they should marry an Asian woman. He says he knows a guy who is soon marrying a Japanese woman for this specific reason.
That sounds like an inside joke poking fun at Trey Parker and Emma Sugiyama’s marriage to me.
Final Thoughts
So far, Emma Sugiyama has managed to stay out of the spotlight and avoid controversies. Wherever Sugiyama is, I hope she’s doing okay!
