SnV Forums

[Steveo]

Isaac Hayes Quits 'South Park'

NEW YORK - 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."

"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."


My Comments:

Hayes is an idiot for quitting. He tolerates the episodes about Jews, Catholics, Christians, Mormons, etc. but when it comes to Scientology, he gets offended, and he jumps ship like a rat.

[Seanie]

Scientology is ridiculous, anyways.
I'd rather support the Flying Spaghetti Monster.


He's been with the show for so long, so it's rather surprising to hear that he quit.

[the bunk]

why didn't he quit, say, when the scientology episode aired?

ah well, it's not like he was in the show that often anymore.
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[the bunk]

[Squishy]

I wonder if they're gonna kill him in a new episode without him talking or something, or if he'll just dissapear. he was never really one of my favorite characters anyways
_________________
"Fudge, Packer?"

[the snuggler]

What would the evil lord Xenu say?

Tsk tsk tsk.


*braces self for lawsuit*


Seriously though, I'm majorly bummed. God only knows what they'll do for Chef's character with Hayes gone.
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i rhyme in tsunamis and this is just a drop of it

[Rocky Sullivan]

Chef's primetime has been and gone, anyway. It's still a pity though, he's always been one of my favourite characters, but generally in the earlier episodes.

I can understand why he'd leave, anyway. I can't say I'm a fan of Scientology, but vocal intolerance of any religion is pretty poxy.

[Mavhunter]

Great, now they have to kill Chef off.
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[the bunk]

which would be the most stellar thing he's done since season four.


want to take bets on how he goes?


shot in the face by dick cheney, i say.
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[Squishy]

[anngry]

im pretty sure scientology is going to be the death of show business.
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and the cheat will hit stuff with a golf club! SEE-GEE-IN-YOU.

[Y2K]

Well, after one of their main voice actors died in 1997 after the release of the movie, they didn't exactly kill off all of those characters (A bunch of the minor but important female characters) so who knows? They just might try their best to replace him with a new voice actor.

[the snuggler]

[Steveo]

Ill bet that hes abducted by Scientologist aliens

[Sharp]

I didn't like south park that much anyway, this is just another reason not to watch it.