Isaac Hayes Quits South Park

[Ian]

The guy can sing about chocolate salty balls and making sweet love but when they make fun of Scientology, he quits?

http://tv.yahoo.com/news/ap/20060313/114230844000.html

Isaac Hayes has quit "South Park," where he voices Chef, saying he can no longer stomach its take on religion.

Hayes, who has played the ladies' man/school cook in the animated Comedy Central satire since 1997, said in a statement Monday that he feels a line has been crossed.

"There is a place in this world for satire, but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry towards religious beliefs of others begins," the 63-year-old soul singer and outspoken Scientologist said.

"Religious beliefs are sacred to people, and at all times should be respected and honored," he continued. "As a civil rights activist of the past 40 years, I cannot support a show that disrespects those beliefs and practices."

It makes you wonder if the church of insanity.. err scientology put pressure on him. The Onion interviewed him about this a month or two ago and he didn't seem that pissed.. at least pissed enough to quit the show.

I'm waiting for the "Oh my god! They killed Chef!"

[TheWizard]

I'm Catholic, and I don't think South Park has crossed the line by making fun of other Catholics, and they have done some pretty harsh stuff!

I also have Jewish friends, and in practically every South Park episode, Kyle is made fun of for being Jewish. None of my Jewish friends find that offensive; in fact, quite the opposite, they find it hilarious!

Isaac Hayes needs to realize that South Park isn't real, it's fake. Not only that, it's comedy! Lighten up, dude.

[dodecahedron]

that's the nature of religious fanatics...it's ok as long as it's against other religions, not yours.

[dolphinius_rex]

I'm catholic, and I believe Southpark *HAS* crossed the line on more then a few occasions... so you know how I react? I don't watch the episode

I find most of South Park completely uninteresting, but a few episodes have caught my eye that I enjoyed. An episode where the kids are taken hunting, the Jesus vs. Satan boxing match, and that recent scientology episode. I also enjoyed at least a few parts from the movie (like where Bill gates is shot over windows).

[JamieW]

"As a civil rights activist I think people's religion should be respected, but speaking your mind and making fun of religion on an irreverant satirical comedy is just not reasonable and I would never have known this from the very first episode where Jesus fought Santa."

[LoneWolf]

I'm catholic, and I believe Southpark *HAS* crossed the line on more then a few occasions... so you know how I react? I don't want the episode

Ditto (aside from being Catholic; I'm Protestant, but I agree with you completely).

[Ian]

The South Park creators have declared war on Scientology:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060318/ap_ ... th_park_12

This upcoming season (starts the 22nd) is going to be interesting.

[dolphinius_rex]

Hrm, it looks like maybe Isaac Hayes DIDN'T quit... but someone may have quit for him?

http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly ... 63,00.html

[stix]

The South Park creators have declared war on Scientology:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060318/ap_ ... th_park_12

This upcoming season (starts the 22nd) is going to be interesting.

Not only did they declare war, but it's a "million-year" war. I absolutely love it.

[Ian]

Yes.. tonight's episode is going to be interesting...

"The Return of Chef!" Episode #1001.
The boys notice that something about Chef is different when he suddenly reappears in South Park.

[Ian]

omg.. that was a funny episode. Gotta love how they poked fun at the scientologists without actually naming them.

[Ian]

Darth Chef...

[stix]

I don't have cable, so didn't get to see episode 1001.

Is that a screen shot from the show? If it is, that's rich. the (scientologists) as the evil empire? Especially like the red fly-swatter, or is that a spatula for flipping burgers?

[Ian]

Yeah, that's from the show. The torrent is out there if want to download the episode.