South Park loses Chef

[Hivetyrant]

Just in case you didn't already know....

In a statement released to the press today, legendary soul man Isaac Hayes announced that he's requested a release from his contract for South Park. Hayes has voiced Chef on the Comedy Central series since the series' debut in 1997. The press release stated that the reason for Hayes' departure is due to recent episodes that "have embarked upon what he feels are 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." Mr. Hayes stated, "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." South Park co-creator Matt Stone rebutted Hayes' statement in an interview with the Associated Press, stating, "This is 100% 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." The South Park episode Stone is referring to is titled "Trapped in the Closet," and aired Nov. 15, 2005. The episode centered around Stan joining Scientology and being viewed by its members as the second coming of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. Actor and professed scientologist Tom Cruise then arrives at Stan's house, and then hides in Stan's closet when Stan tells him what he thinks of his acting. Stan then pleads with Cruise to "come out of the closet"; celebrities John Travolta and R. Kelly also stop by to get Cruise out of the closet but instead join him. In the course of the episode, Stan's parents are told what scientologists believe.

[ 03-15-2006, 06:26 AM: Message edited by: Hivetyrant ]

[Madman-Rogovich]

Cheers for the info Hive, sad days indeed. [img]redface.gif[/img]

[Sever]

Do scientologists REALLY believe that all negative emotions in humans are the influence of souls of ancient space aliens, frozen and sent to Earth by an evil overlord where they were thrown into a volcano and their rising souls captured by a big soul vacuum cleaner only to be released millions of years later to take host in human minds?

[img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img] That episode made me laugh.

[Timber Loftis]

Hey, mods, is Scientology considered a protected "religion" here, or is it okay if I make fun of all those idiots who believe this tripe?

But, even if I can't do that, there is the whole hypocrisy of working for SOUTH PARK -- yes, SOUTH PARK -- and suddenly realizing they bash religion.

O'RLY?

[Hivetyrant]

[Jotin]

isaac hayes, what a hypocrite, he's been making fun of other religions for years now on that show

[Sever]

Is it true that the episode in question didn't get aired in the States?

[shamrock_uk]

Originally posted by Sever: Do scientologists REALLY believe that all negative emotions in humans are the influence of souls of ancient space aliens, frozen and sent to Earth by an evil overlord where they were thrown into a volcano and their rising souls captured by a big soul vacuum cleaner only to be released millions of years later to take host in human minds? [img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img] That episode made me laugh.

Enjoy [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Will be sorry to see Chef go, but yeah, just a bit hypocritical. Can't say I'd ever even heard of them before now...aren't Mormon's enough for one country? [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[ 03-16-2006, 04:41 PM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]

[Luvian]

As far as I'm concerned, this is just a cult based around L.Ron Hubard's teaching and not a religion.

[Lucern]

Sever - that show certainly aired here, on the date mentioned IIRC. I thought it was hilarious.