Chef Ditches South Park, Citing Religious Intolerance

[Lemur]

I guess Issac Hayes suddenly noticed that South Park makes fun of religion. The fact that the show finally did an episode about Scientology is pure coincidence.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

'Disappointed' Hayes leaves 'South Park'
By Andrew Wallenstein

Soul singer Isaac Hayes has parted ways with the Comedy Central series "South Park," citing the series' "inappropriate ridicule of religious communities."

Hayes, who has voiced the character Chef since the series began in 1997, released a statement through his spokesman Monday requesting a release from his contract because he "is disappointed with what he perceives as a growing insensitivity toward personal spiritual beliefs."

In a rejoinder issued later in the day by Comedy Central, "Park" co-creator Matt Stone described Hayes as a disgruntled Scientologist unhappy with a recent episode lampooning the organization's religious beliefs.

"In 10 years and over 150 episodes of 'South Park,' Isaac never had a problem with the show making fun of Christians, Muslims, Mormons and Jews," Stone said in a statement in which he agreed to release Hayes from his contract. "He got a sudden case of religious sensitivity when it was his religion featured on the show."

During the ninth season of "Park," an episode titled "Trapped in the Closet" poked fun at Scientology, including depictions of celebrities with known ties to the organization, including Tom Cruise and John Travolta.

[Alexanderofmacedon]

I'm sure he realized it, but sometimes it just gets to be too much. That's why I don't watch it anymore. Not because I think it's too rascist or whatever, it's just not funny.

[Byzantine Mercenary]

I agree, sort of, its a good show but it does seem to take religious comments to the extreme. Im not sure about Scientology but isn't it a (warped) form of Christianity anyway so surely there would have been loads of stuff before now that would have offended him?

[mystic brew]

nah... it's dressed up in a few christian clothes because it's in a majority christian culture, but it really really has nothing in common with Christianity.

Here's the official site and one dedicated to destroying it! Never let it be said i'm not fair and balanced.

http://www.scientology.org/

http://www.xenu.net/

Honestly, scientology is crazy crazy sh... stuff.

[Kraxis]

It can get to be too much, but most often it is just fun.

Interesting that Hayes semingly haven't been very attentive to what he has been participating in. Even more interesting is the fact that only now have Scientology been hit, I mean for South Park it is basically the most generous target. Lots of high profile celebrities and seclusive (to the point that some would argue it is a sect).

[Ronin]

just another crybaby that can dish it out but can't take it.....


don't let the door hit your ass on the way out

[doc_bean]

I remember reading an interview with Hayes quite a while back where he discussed the religious themes in South park and also their attacks on his religion (it has happened before). He was defending them than. My guess is he just got tired of South Park, much like the rest of the world has...

[Reenk Roink]

I cannot stand that show anymore...too freakin' bigoted...

[Moros]

I didn't know this show was still running...
Oh well. But who still watches this show anyway?

[lars573]

I still watch it. But it's completely formulaic now. Parker and Stone have goten lazy and use the same format to make fun of everything. Now it only has some good jokes and some teeth grinding messages segments.

[Kaiser of Arabia]

I <3 southpark and I shall miss Chef.

[GoreBag]

I cannot stand that show anymore...too freakin' bigoted...

It's facetious.

Well, screw Isaac Hayes, then. Here's to hoping they replace him with Flava Flav.

[Strike For The South]

It's facetious.

Well, screw Isaac Hayes, then. Here's to hoping they replace him with Flava Flav.

Id give my left nut for that

[Alexanderofmacedon]

Id give my left nut for that

You already gave that one away!

[Soulforged]

I cannot stand that show anymore...too freakin' bigoted...

A hint: I-T-'-S H-U-M-O-R...Come on everybody just say it.

I think that the most probable cause for this reaction is the one that Xiahou posted, also, why not, a little money in the way.

[Lemur]

A little more detail emerges:

"As a civil rights activist of the past 40 years, I cannot support a show that disrespects those beliefs and practices," he added. Hayes' reaction stumped some, because the show that spawned "South Park" included Santa and Jesus in a death match, and throughout the run the producers have skewered various religions and celebrities.

"This has nothing to do with intolerance and bigotry and everything to do with the fact that Isaac Hayes is a Scientologist and that we recently featured Scientology in an episode of 'South Park,' " Matt Stone, co-creator of 'South Park,' said in a statement. "In 10 years and over 150 episodes of 'South Park,' Isaac never had a problem with the show making fun of Christians, Muslims, Mormons and Jews. He got a sudden case of religious sensitivity when it was his religion featured on the show. To bring the civil-rights struggle into this is just a non sequitur. Of course, we will release Isaac from his contract and we wish him well."

[KukriKhan]

What seems kind of unusual about this, is that normally, when such disagreements occur, both sides just refer to "artistic differences" and go their separate ways. This time, they're airing the issue(s) while divorcing.

I've always thought of South Park as the Jerry Springer of aminated comedy.

[Reenk Roink]

A hint: I-T-'-S H-U-M-O-R...Come on everybody just say it.

I think that the most probable cause for this reaction is the one that Xiahou posted, also, why not, a little money in the way.

Maybe for you buddy, I say it's retarded on top of it's bigotry...

[Mongoose]

Maybe for you buddy, I say it's retarded on top of it's bigotry...

Bigoted? It mocks everyone!

Besides, like SoulForged mentioned, you need to have a sense of H-U-M-O-R

[Alexanderofmacedon]

A hint: I-T-'-S H-U-M-O-R...Come on everybody just say it.

I think that the most probable cause for this reaction is the one that Xiahou posted, also, why not, a little money in the way.

It's not really humor. It's not funny...

Like, I don't have a problem with the stuff they insult because I know it's just a show, but it's just not funny anymore...

[Soulforged]

It's not really humor. It's not funny...

Like, I don't have a problem with the stuff they insult because I know it's just a show, but it's just not funny anymore...

Humor is meant to be funny not to cause fun as a reaction. Thus I intended to show that this is HUMOR, it cannot be bigoted because all humor, specially political, tends to make jokes of minorities. If you understand what's humor, you still might find it repugnant, but bigoted never while it's still HUMOR. If you find any other things behind "South Park" beyond humor then someone needs to clearify his intentions, to me the intention of the creators and producers is still the same: HUMOR. But of course latelly a lot of people with little perspective took humor as something else... (this was not directed to you and no other participant in this thread so far, it should be clear where it was directed).

[Xiahou]

n a rejoinder issued later in the day by Comedy Central, "Park" co-creator Matt Stone described Hayes as a disgruntled Scientologist unhappy with a recent episode lampooning the organization's religious beliefs.

That was what I thought when I first read this headline. I assumed he was a scientologist and the scientologist "gestapo" came down on him after this episode came to light. I wonder if the scientologist lawyers have threatened the show with their obligatory lawsuits yet?