Curious, Sad, Typical…

‘South Park’ loses Chef in spat about religion

By RICHARD L. ELDREDGE | Tuesday, March 14, 2006, 01:40 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Former Atlantan Isaac Hayes has quit “South Park,” where he voices Chef,
saying he no longer can 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.”

“South Park” co-creator Matt Stone responded sharply in an interview with The
Associated Press Monday, saying, “This is 100 percent having to do with his
faith of Scientology…. He has no problem — and he’s cashed plenty of checks —
with our show making fun of Christians.”

Last November, “South Park” targeted the Church of Scientology and its
celebrity followers, including actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta, in a
top-rated episode called “Trapped in the Closet.” In the episode, Stan, one
of the show’s four mischievous fourth-graders, is hailed as a reluctant
savior by Scientology leaders, while a cartoon Cruise locks himself in a
closet and won’t come out.

Stone told the AP he and co-creator Trey Parker “never heard a peep out of
Isaac in any way until we did Scientology. He wants a different standard for
religions other than his own, and to me, that is where intolerance and
bigotry begin.”

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