Isaac Hayes leaving South Park : cites intolerance & bigotry

[bliss_eternal]

"South Park" Chef Loses Voice

by Sarah Hall
Mar 13, 2006, 3:05 PM PT



South Park's Chef may have dished out his final chocolate salty ball.

Isaac Hayes, who has voiced the highly sexed cafeteria employee on the irreverent series since 1997, issued a statement Monday indicating that he has requested to be released from his contract due to what he called the show's "inappropriate ridicule of religious communities."

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

Though Hayes, a devout Scientologist, made no reference to specific episodes that he felt crossed the line, series creator Matt Stone had little doubt that Hayes' decision was triggered by the November 2005 episode "Trapped in the Closet," which satirized the religion's beliefs and practices and featured "cameos" by animated versions of Tom Cruise and John Travolta.
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http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,18557,00.html?fdnews

Interesting--when I saw this headline, I thought he may have been referring to racial intolerance and bigotry,or perhaps their intolerance and bigotry toward the political left, knowing that Isaac Hayes worked for civil rights.
Though I honestly would have been surprised, as this is their thing (lampooning race, sex, religion, etc.) and has been since the show's creation. :shrug:

Some of the show's of late have been rather heavy handed in their bias against the left, so thought surely that had to be why he was leaving.

I'm surprised to hear that Isaac Hayes is a scientologist. Who knew?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

1. It's all fun & games until they thwack on your own whacked religion eh?

[Occulus]

2. Not to mention that it's completely made up from thin air n/t

[kestrel91316]

11. Like most other religions that come to mind.........

[bliss_eternal]

5. I suppose...

I thought perhaps he was tired of their political slams, knowing Isaac Hayes worked for civil rights. Trey can be rather heavy handed with his liberal bashing.

But to find it was about scientology... :wtf:

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

6. Actually I used to like South Park but I'm tired of Parker and Stone's

Libertarian B.S.

I do subscribe to the stereotype that youngish people who call themselves "libertarians" are generally Neanderthal Repub types who know just enough to realize that being an actual Repub is uncool so they adopt these other labels.

And politics nonwithstanding, South Park just doesn't seem very funny the last handful of times I've tried to watch it.

[bliss_eternal]

8. I agree with you--

it's become quite heavy handed and not at all funny. The last episode that even made me chuckle this season was the one with the Gingers. Notice I said, 'chuckle.'

I used to like the show a lot, and welcome watching older episodes. But it's just not very funny anymore.

Wasn't aware they were libertarians--I thought Trey was a puke. His episode spoofing Katrina was one of the worst I've ever seen. The Scientology episode I couldn't even finish...so bad.

[Swamp Rat]

22. They made an episode spoofing Katrina?

What is funny about thousands of Americans dying and losing their homes?

[bliss_eternal]

27. Exactly--

which is what I took issue with. They tried to make light of the situation as only they can. Not as much the people that lost their lives or homes, but the fact that the area was flooded, why it was flooded, and the govts. role. Apparently, blaming the govt. for their role in the aftermath was ridiculous to them. :eyes:

According to South Park, global warming is a farce--something the liberal, hippies have made up to frighten people and the govt. should not be held accountable for the aftermath of Katrina.

:hi:

[Marie26]

3. Hayes a Scientologist?

That's so wrong, somehow.

[bliss_eternal]

4. I know!

Totally strikes me as odd.

I wonder how long, and...why? It seems a completely messed up religion of cult like proportions...

[iamthebandfanman]

9. heh

but arent all religions just a bunch of big cults really if ya think about it ?

to each their own.
if they wanna believe in a religion based on what a science fiction novelist wrote, i say go for it ;)

[Up2Late]

7. You got to be kidding! They've made fun of EVERY Religion over the years!

...Man, Scientologists really are lame if they can't take a joke.

I guess it's like being a Bush Republican who won't give up on Dim-son, they don't want to admit that they were wrong all these years, and that they got punked my a con-man.

[bliss_eternal]

13. You're right...

every religion--Catholicism, Judaism, Christianity--I think they've taken pot shots at Buddhism, too but I don't recall that one specifically.

I guess he was sensitive to this as it's HIS religion. :shrug:

[Up2Late]

24. Not much of a shot at the Buddhist, their have been a few pokes...

...but we can usually take a joke. I think one and maybe both of them claim to be Buddhists.

My favorite was when Satan couldn't figure out what to do with Saddam Hussein (he kept killing his new boyfriend Chris), but as Saddam and Chris kept pointing out, were am I going to go?

So anyway, someone suggested that Satan go ask God what to do with Saddam, So Satan went up to Heaven to talk to God, were he met all the Mormon's that were there (they are the only one's going to Heaven according to South Park).

So they showed what God looks like (don't ask) and after God solved Satan's problem, as he was leaving God mentioned that he was a Buddhist.

I thought that was kind of cool.

[kestrel91316]

10. Another poor pitiful martyred Scientologist. Boo f'in hoo.

[MADem]

12. That show brought him back from nowhere land

Guess he has made enough cash and socked it away so he can bite the hand that has fed him. He probably makes a tidy sum in residuals alone.

I don't normally watch the show, but I did see the one in question--when the guy asked "Why won't Tom Cruise come out of the closet?" (he was hiding in one of the kids' closets) I busted up laughing.

Ya gotta wonder if old Tom slipped him a big check to leave in huff. Somehow, it sounds like something he would do...

[bliss_eternal]

14. I don't get the sense that the celebrity Scientologists

fully understand how screwed up it is for underlings involved in it.

I read an article, a first person account by a woman that ran away from it all, to have a baby and a shot at a life of her own. Fascinating story! It's a completely different experience for the celeb./wealthy members, than it is for the normal folk.

Not that it sounds like a great thing at the celebrity level, imo... lol.

[Rich Hunt]

29. They have so many people trapped in it

Working long hours for little pay, separated from their families. Celebs don't get this treatment.

[bliss_eternal]

30. Yes--

that's exactly what I read about. The young woman in the article I read, she escaped, but described that very thing. She spoke about how different the treatment is for the celebs...

I wonder if the celebs would be so quick to defend something that abuses others. If so, they have much bigger issues than scientology...

[Up2Late]

26. I think he (and they) are probably most angry that South Park dared...

...to tell the world how truly screwed up that so-called religion is. They gave away all the "secret parts" of Scientology, so now they are probably having trouble tricking the future lemmings.

It all reminds me of the "War Room" scene from the movie "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" (1964)

I mean seriously, the souls fly to this planet in spacecraft that look just like DC-8's (except they had rocket motors instead of jet engines)!?! :spray:

General "Buck" Turgidson: Is that the Russian ambassador you're talking about?

President Merkin Muffley: Yes it is, General.

General "Buck" Turgidson: A-A-Am I to understand that the *Russian* ambassador is to be admitted entrance to th-the War Room?

President Merkin Muffley: That is correct, he is here on my orders.

General "Buck" Turgidson: I... I don't know exactly how to put this, sir, but are you aware of what a serious breach of security that would be? I mean, he'll see everything, he'll... he'll see the Big Board!

<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057012/quotes>

<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057012/>

More great quotes:
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057012/quotes>

Here's some info on what Scientologists actually believe:

<http://www.xenu.net/archive/leaflet/>

<http://www.xenu.net/archive/leaflet/Xenu-Letter.pdf>

And more info at The Rick A. Ross Institute: <http://www.rickross.com/groups/scientology.html>

[EST]

15. As usual, in the real world, one man's religion is another man's

belly laugh. I suppose Mr. Hayes can now afford to be more sensitive. (My astonishing cynicism)

[davidinalameda]

16. he's been part of the show from day one

they've been making fun of religion since day one

is it me or is anyone else confused that he's picking now to leave the show?

[jpeg]

19. i interpreted his comments as

they used to put on a good satirical show and he could overlook the mean-spiritedness because they were funny or there was some redeeming element about the show. Now he thinks the show is nothing but crap and is bailing out.

[bliss_eternal]

21. Welcome to DU, jpeg!

:hi:

Your assessment makes more sense than what Hayes has stated as his reason.

[jpeg]

23. *waves*

thanks! glad to be here.

[newyawker99]

28. Hi jpeg!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[davidinalameda]

32. that's possible

but the satire has always been aimed pretty low

Mr. Hanky isn't exactly high-brow humor and how many times can they kill Kenny before that gets way old

[bliss_eternal]

20. Could it be

they just don't use him as frequently, so he chose to exit? Or he agrees that it isn't as good as it once was, so he's opting out now?

:shrug: 'dunno. It's definitely weird, though...

[NMMNG]

17. Oh please

SP has made fun of everyone and everything under the sun, yet now that it has made fun of Hayes' particular religion he jumps ship? What a cry baby. :cry: :eyes:

[bliss_eternal]

18. Yes, it seems hyper-sensitive

on his part, doesn't it? I also never would have figured him as a guy that would sign-up for Scientology. I'm still stunned by that one...

:hi:

[NMMNG]

25. That does seem to be a celebrity magnet

Maybe because they have the money for it. It's not like they're going to be recruiting po' folk.

[Individualist]

31. Hypocrisy, thy name is Isaac n/t