ROTTEN TOMATOES: Isaac Hayes Quits "South Park" Over Scientology Row Comments

Isaac Hayes Quits "South Park" Over Scientology Row

by Jen Yamato | March 13, 2006

Summary

Renowned soul musician and actor Isaac Hayes, who memorably voiced the role of Chef on "South Park" since 1997, has pulled out of the irreverent satirical cartoon, expressing his disgust for the show's disrespect for religious beliefs. Back to Article

(1-59 of 59 posts) | Reply

SozeStrangelove writes:
on Mar 13 2006 07:21 PM

[b]Damn[/b]
Jeez, that's depressing.
i'm not dissing hayes or anything, but now he's complaining about disrespecting people's religious beliefs when South Park has been doing it for at least nine years now.

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loudharley writes:
on Mar 13 2006 07:39 PM

Why is it so excepted to make fun of christianity in this country ,and not other religions.In a recent interview on the opie and anthony show on xm radio hayes said it wasnt ment to be taken seriously ,and that matt and trey make fun of everyone.So why does he come out now and have a problem with the show?His disaproval of that episode is just crazy.These scientologists are into a religous cult started by a bad science fiction writer,and if that doesnt scream nutball i dont know what does.

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tdurden1138 writes:
on Mar 13 2006 08:08 PM

In reply to this comment (#832102)
well, while he will be missed, I think I can speak for a good majority of south park fans(or fans of any kind of smart social satire) when i say Isaac Hayes, f*ck you if you cant take a joke about your precious "religion". your only claim to fame in the past 25 years is Chef. he had no problem with trey and matt making fun of every other religious, social or unisexed jibberish-speaking future job stealing group before they targeted your cult.

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It. writes:
on Mar 13 2006 08:41 PM

[b]it was not a 'joke'[/b]
there was a different treatment between christianity and scientology.
For sure.
Notice of anti-scientology : By thus gesticulant Tom Cruise does nothing but obey its sect.This film makes fun well more of the methods of the scientology that are delirious of Tom the proselyte. What disturbs the scientology it is the fact of having dared to present at general public the hidden revelation, the higher and ultimate "knowledge" of the scientologists... (Oh ! sacrilege. Tom help us, please help !). Also since the diffusion of this episode of Southpark the cult of scientology does not cease losing followers. Increasingly many victims are disappointed by the lack of intellectual integrityof its leader, M. David Miscavige : "pseudo pope "of a pseudo church which claims to have 8'000' 000 of faithful in the world ... but which refuses the mails of the anti-scientology. A quite sad church, a quite small man."

www.anti-scientologie.ch

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thadeus_79 writes:
on Mar 13 2006 08:41 PM

I agree with everyone, and it will be funny to watch future episodes where they will make fun of him.

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lpbreeze writes:
on Mar 13 2006 10:00 PM

I think it would be better to end the feud and try to patch things up after a few months. He has played too crucial of a role in the series. I think he simply got pressured but hopefully things will calm down. I don't agree with him but lets not start bashing the guy.

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joe-cartoon writes:
on Mar 13 2006 10:45 PM

[b]Sad[/b]
As a South Park fan, it's sad to see such a great character go. I predict that in the new series, they will kill him off like they did with Kenny for a while. Just a thought.

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dracus writes:
on Mar 14 2006 07:42 AM

This is going to make for one very funny show.

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taran72 writes:
on Mar 14 2006 09:18 AM

I hate to see him go, but yes he's a hypocrite. It's a miracle Trey and Matt have held out until now to rip on Scientology. It's such an easy target.

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Scarborough Fair writes:
on Mar 14 2006 09:29 AM

[b]suck on our chocolate salty balls, chef[/b]
way to walk away from your show, hayes. you big baby. like everyone else is saying, he had no problem with making fun of everything else and going waaaay too far before. now its personal and he's like " wait a minute...south park ...BAD!" did he even get the comedy of the show when he was on it? was he just reading lines?? i say they shouldn't go after him, just constantly have the character doing pantomime from now on or something.

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Ashron writes:
on Mar 14 2006 09:39 AM

Or better yet, find someone who can do his voice (I'm sure there are plenty of imitators who could nail it) and have Chef become some kind of whiny "it's okay to pick on everyone's beliefs but mine" religious zealot and quit his job at the school. You know, art imitating life.

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scottybarkbark writes:
on Mar 14 2006 10:14 AM

i watch this show all the time and it offends me but i still think its the funniest show out there. he doesn't mind christianity being ripped in two by them but god forbid they make a satire over scientology. hypocrite

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Prosper761 writes:
on Mar 14 2006 10:18 AM

If you can't take a joke, then get out of the cafeteria. You know they're going to have Tom Crusie kill Chef, now... (or at least I hope they do).

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tdurden1138 writes:
on Mar 14 2006 10:59 AM

In reply to this comment (#832113)
unfortunately, if the y put tom cruise on the show he'll threaten to sue everyone who works for paramount and their families like the first time the episode in question aired

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jeremyf1977 writes:
on Mar 14 2006 11:10 AM

Chef hasn't made that many appeareances since the fifth season if any at all. I'll miss him but then again I haven't been watching sout park that much since 2002. It's just not that funny anymore. I get it Eric Cartman is Racist, Kenny Dies...Blah Blah Blah. It's Social Satire. I miss the First season when they made fun of halloween, Christmas, Anal Probes, ECT. Seasons 1997-1999 Are worth Owning on DVD and that's Pretty Much it.

Screw you chef I'm going home...................

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aknddon3 writes:
on Mar 14 2006 11:39 AM

In reply to this comment (#832115)
You do not know what you are talking about. First off Kenny does not die anymore, second off not only is cartman a bigot, but Kyle is one too. And some of the best episodes have been the new ones, you need to start watching it again.

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RDawg5555 writes:
on Mar 14 2006 11:44 AM

The sad thing is about that Scientology episode: They didnt make up any lies about it. Scientology is that retarded. Other than making Stan a prophet, that show showed Scientology for what it really is: retarded.

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consciousafrican writes:
on Mar 14 2006 12:06 PM

[b]I. Hayes gets sanctified when it's his azz on the[/b]
The Scientology powers that be musta pulled his coat...I tell you that negro slave mentality, like the energizer bunny, just keeps goin, and goin...

lawdy hallalua massa!!!

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Fangmeier69 writes:
on Mar 14 2006 12:16 PM

[b]Think about it, Issac[/b]
He definitely looks like a hypocrite with these comments, after everything South Park has tackled before. But to be fair, how much are other religions ripped? Jesus himself has been a supporting character, and was always shown respectfully - no one who is a devout Christian was ever shown to be a moron for doing so. They'll go after greedy televangelists or Mel Gibson instead, or political correctness with Christmas. If they mocked Islam, it hasn't been Mohammed they went after, just famous people who were muslims.

Does the Church of Scientology get by on the finances of the rich & famous? Does anyone actually KNOW a scientologist? Did Tom Cruise sue Steve Martin after Bowfinger, with it's scientology-like cult called Mindhead?

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Stof writes:
on Mar 14 2006 01:29 PM

[b]Not his fault[/b]
Hayes leaving is stupid alright, but do you really think that he had anything to do with it? What seems more likely? That after 9 years on South Park he suddenly got offended? or that the "church" made him leave?

So it's not Hayes fault that he left the show, it's Scientology's fault.
It's just Hayes fault for being a Scientologist. Man... Hayes, Haggis, Cruise and Holmes... what is it with Hollywood and crazy?

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Mort Guffman writes:
on Mar 14 2006 02:36 PM

In reply to this comment (#832119)
Actually, the show has ripped other religions pretty evenly. I am a devout Christian, and I haven't ever liked the way they rip on the person of Jesus Christ, and at times have turned the show off for this reason. However, I love how they rip on the pseudo cultures that religions create, like Christian rock music with Faith +1. That episode was so brilliant it was ridiculous.

Also, the show was dead on in its portrayal of Mormon theology and even in parts that I've seen describe Christian and Catholic theology (transubstantiation, etc.), which lead me to believe that much of the Scientology episode was quite accurate as well (not to mention what I already know about Scientology). These guys do their homework, and despite its negative press are much smarter than people give them credit for.

I think that in our postmodern, fluffy safe world, South Park does an amazing job of being blunt and straight-forward in its commentaires and messages, particularly in the newer seasons (religious or no).

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ThomasElla writes:
on Mar 14 2006 02:38 PM

[b]You guys are looking at it all wrong...[/b]
It. had it right. There is a distinct difference in the treatment of Scientology and Christianity. With Christianity, it is generally comical, like having Jesus fight Santa Claus and Satan in boxing matches. With Scientology, you could tell that Trey and Matt were just blatantly going out and saying that Scientology is false. They would never do that to Christianity since most of their audience is Christian.

They criticized L. Ron Hubbard, the practices used in Scientology, characterized Scientologists as all crazy lunatics, put up text during the explanation of what Scientology was that reads "THIS IS WHAT SCIENTOLOGISTS ACTUALLY BELIEVE," and even had the "head" of Scientology saying it was a load of crap. That is obviously offensive to Scientology, and this is coming from an Atheist. Christians would've been offended if they had the Pope on there saying that Christianity is false, believe you me.

You guys are simply looking at it from the standpoint of being of another religion that dictates that Scientology is false. I don't believe in Scientology, but I am tolerant enough of it that I can empathize with Isaac and confidently say that if I were in his position, I would probably do the same.

I love South Park and found the episode funny, but even I know when a line has been crossed.

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tigertank writes:
on Mar 14 2006 03:06 PM

[b]crap[/b]
I think Isaac is full of donkey sh*t. If Haye's were a civil rights leader he wouldn't be making that show because of it's content. Secondly, he say's he writes music, which nobody has ever heard (and if you've heard his music, you should be emberrased by the way). Also, if he's a scientologist than that only means he's too stupid to even figure out that he looks stupid, which makes him look even stupider.

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kylie43 writes:
on Mar 14 2006 03:08 PM

In reply to this comment (#832122)
As much as I love satire and can appreciate the brilliance that goes into it, I've always cringed at South Park. Christianity has always been an easy target - unfortunately any audience that identifies as Christian and still watches it seems to only be numb to how blatant blasphemy is in our culture. What's unfortunate is that people only seem to pay attention to this when it's another grop that is being offended. A line has been crossed a long time ago....

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TheIceGhost writes:
on Mar 14 2006 03:11 PM

Hayes did win an Oscar for his themesong for "Shaft"....hahahahahahaha. Oh Chef I'll miss you, but this can only lead to bigger and better things, maybe a new character!!!

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synergyred writes:
on Mar 14 2006 04:49 PM

Aww no Cheft! Don't goooo! Couldn't you have just sat this episode out? :(

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RedRing writes:
on Mar 14 2006 05:16 PM

In reply to this comment (#832122)
[b]Sad[/b]
It's sad but he's right. The scientology episode was much more of an attack then any other relgious satire

Maybe Matt and Trey don't realise it, but they were pretty harsh, though I got a good laugh out of it.

But imagine if say an atheist made a cartoon where christians were criticized for believing that a supreme being created the world despite overwhelming evidence otherwise and followers of christianity were portrayed as mindless idiots who need something to follow, and then it showed Jesus himself admitting that the whole religion is false With "CHRISTIANS ACTUALLY BELIEVE THIS" captioned across the bottom..... that honestly wouldn't be very cool. Some people would get a laugh, but that is quite in the middle of grounds of being offended... I mean if THAT didn't offend a christian than nothing can!

Now I have no idea what these celebrities see in this religion... at all. But there IS a difference between satire and an attack... and that episode... just barely crossed that line and was very obvious about it.

And all of you bashing on Hayes need to stop it!
That man entertained us as Chef for a long time, and he isn't just known as CHEF. If you were older than 25 you'd probably realize that.

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stalepa writes:
on Mar 14 2006 05:18 PM

[b]What the f***?[/b]
I can not fathom that Issac Hayes has the nerve to even state that a line was crossed in regards to the Scientology episode. For the past nine years MANY episodes have been deemed "offensive," in regards to religion; in many cases Christianity has been the target. How dare a man poke fun at one the oldest and most sacred religions in the world. I believe Mr.Hayes is "glibb." What other reaction does Issac Hayes expect the people to have to Scientology? He, along with the other "Hollywood Crazies," believe that we are from some far off galaxy and, that we are persecuted alien souls. I mean what the f***? How could you NOT make fun of something so ridiculous. I will miss "Chef," but I will not miss another crazy scientologist.

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jrdamwijk writes:
on Mar 14 2006 06:00 PM

[b]You know[/b]
Scientology is a bunch of bullshit anyways, so he can cry me a river. Their beliefs would be more suited to that of a science fiction film.

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kfarschman writes:
on Mar 14 2006 06:06 PM

In reply to this comment (#832127)
I think your wrong. The "harsh" treatment was telling everyone their true believes and showing you how crazy they are. It's like "you thought Jesus coming back from the dead or a virgin birth was crazy, look at this.". It showed their believes, and let people make up their own mind on it, and if you aren't a psycho member than you laughed at how ridiculous it is. It is not a religon and doesn't deserve rights that come with being a religon. I don't think any religons deserve some of their rights, or immunity from satire and the harsh light on their major flaws (intolerance, holy wars, greed, wide-spead child molestation, excuse for commiting horrible terrorists acts by weak minded people, dividing people of different believes even in the same religon ....etc, all which out weighs any good they bring)

Noone knows a scientologists because they are only crazy rich celebrities that can't think for themselves. If you do any research on scientology, you realize how much worse they could have ripped them, and that it is a evil spirited company that is tricking sad people out of their money. I can't believe that ethic-less greedy corporate science fiction fantasy cult hasn't been arrested for fraud, extortion, kidnapping, and who knows what else they are responsible for.

Isaac Hayes owes Matt Stone and Trey Parker all the money he's made in the last 10 years. He's a hypocrite and he will pay because now Parker's sharp wit should focus on him.

(Reply to this)

ThomasElla writes:
on Mar 14 2006 07:09 PM

In reply to this comment (#832130)
[b]Oh please...[/b]
Are you actually going to take that kind of an attitude? Just because you yourself don't believe in Scientology doesn't mean that you should go and declare everyone who believes in it crazy. You believe what you believe, regardless of evidence; that's the nature of faith. How do you think that every religion that you aren't feels about your religion? They think you're out of your flipping mind! And maybe you are, maybe you aren't.

And if we want to go and try to blame an entire religion for what certain members have done, then let's blame all of Christianity for the Holocaust since Hitler was Christian and thought he was doing the world a favor.

And please don't make assumptions on religions without having experienced them first-hand for yourself. I find it rather humorous that you say that a major flaw of religion is intolerance, yet you seem especially intolerant of Scientology.

(Reply to this)

South_park300 writes:
on Mar 14 2006 07:24 PM

...that's because Scientology isn't a religion, it's more of a Scifi novela if you will

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RedRing writes:
on Mar 14 2006 07:50 PM

[b]Also[/b]
This may have a little bit to do with the "offensiveness" of this issue

it's not my defense but may be a reason.

It's ok and acceptable to make fun of christianity over mainstream just like it's ok to make fun of white people. But once someone makes fun of a smaller religion or a minority then it's more of a touchy subject and I think the two relate because when you make fun of a minority religion or race, it's seen as more offensive because it's not as easy for something smaller to defend itself from something bigger... it seems like bullying

So making fun of white people and making fun of christianity because it is for the most part harmless to people, but once some sort of minority is subject to mistreatment it looks like bullying.

Again, that may not be the case but.... it prob. has something to do with it.

And as crazy as scientology may seem to you, to others it really is something that should be respected.... I mean it's not like satan worship. It's a positive religion.

And when someone that is a christian, The largest religion in the world, picks on one of the smallest known ones. It just seems bad... especially in the manner in which they did it.

(Reply to this)

RedRing writes:
on Mar 14 2006 07:56 PM

[b]One more thing[/b]
Sorry for posting twice in a row but.

This reminds me of that time that Chef made a speech about how God feeds on the misery of children and that their tears make him stronger and that he gives things to us just to take them away cause it makes him feel good about himself.

I HONESTLY thought, that someone like him would have trouble saying something like that... I was SHOCKED

Does anyone remember that? it was from the episode where Kenny died, for real.

(Reply to this)

uatu13 writes:
on Mar 14 2006 08:35 PM

[b]F*ck Isaac Hayes[/b]
What a first class puss! He sat idly by for YEARS while South Park made fun of ever single thing that exists in our culture, and when they take a poke at his goofball religion he cries and leaves the show?! South Park's made fun of plenty of stuff I take seriously, and you know what, I realized it's a COMEDY show. The funny thing is he's only proving how screwed up Scientologists are by leaving over this; they should have put his @ss in the closet with Tom Cruise!

Screw religious sensitivity too! If you're stupid enough to believe some wacky comic-book crap then I have the right to make fun of you. It's a two way street.

All I can say is good riddance, he'll be back in the unemployment line in no time!

(Reply to this)

Stoolio writes:
on Mar 14 2006 08:50 PM

In reply to this comment (#832119)
[b]I know some Scientologist[/b]
I have five people in my family whose lives have been ruined by the Church of $cientology.

One member of my family has been involved with them for over 20 years and has given over $500K of her own money.

Like the episode said- IT IS A GREEDY CULT.

Their members really believe they are better than the rest of us and have appointed themsleves as the smartest people in the world- nevermind that outside of some actors and singers, you never hear of any Nobel Prize winners, no sports stars, and no great scientist that are Scientologist.

I have had these nutcases call and email me for 10 years trying to recruit me.

Issac Hayes is doing what he was told to do by the cult- and he is a hypocrtical ass for it.

(Reply to this)

Stoolio writes:
on Mar 14 2006 08:56 PM

In reply to this comment (#832131)
I have experienced Scientology first hand and this episode hit their members dead on.

Scientologist are crazy- they may be good people but they are fools.

What the hell do you know about Scientology that qualifies you to say they aren't crazy. Comparing Scientology to any other faith is based on ignorance and a knee jerk habit to tolerate anything that calls itself religion.

I know and have endured enought of the CO$ that I CAN SAY that I put the eaders of Scientology and the leaders of NAMBA on the same level.

(Reply to this)

Paul_Is_Drunk writes:
on Mar 14 2006 09:01 PM

I've been with a Scientoligist and that episode was dead on. Everything they said was true. Were they afraid that the truth was going to come out? Stupid cult...

Remember how the episode ended with them taunting the Scientoligists to sue them? I bet they threatened to do that multiple times. Can't sue for pursuing the truth, though, can you?

(Reply to this)

ThomasElla writes:
on Mar 14 2006 09:31 PM

In reply to this comment (#832137)
[b]Well...[/b]
...that's still just your opinion. My opinion is that whatever someone believes in, whether it be Scientology, Wiccan, Satanism, whatever, they should be respected, no matter how bogus it sounds to you. It's just ethics. It's just common decency. It makes you sound more ignorant, intolerant, and even worse than the people you consider yourself better than. Probably the same things you've experienced with Scientologists, I've experienced with Christians, but I try not to think any less of Christianity.

I also think that Scientology is a load of crap, but I don't think that just because I think they're wrong, they should just shut up and convert to something that suits me. America was founded upon freedom of religion, but most Americans don't seem to care when it deals with people of religions other than the ones they deem appropriate.

What qualifies you to say that all Scientologists are crazy? Maybe their beliefs sound crazy to you, but is an alien theory so much more far-fetched than an ascension to heaven or a resurrection of a dead man or a virgin having a child?

And by the way, I don't care who calls their beliefs a religion, because there isn't an approval system of what can or cannot be considered a religion. Even 'Jedi' is considered an official religion in Australia. Jedi. Now Sith I could understand, but Jedi? ;)

(Reply to this)

Elixir writes:
on Mar 15 2006 12:33 AM

this is very stupid.

wow hayes, wow

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RedRoostr writes:
on Mar 15 2006 06:44 AM

Mr. Hayes reason for leaving the show is hypocrisy in its purest form. Whether or not you believe in any religion, this fact cannot be argued. South Park has ripped everything and everyone to shreds, and he has been with them through it all. Now all of a sudden it's a problem? Give me a break.

Say what you will about Christians, Jews, Muslims, etc, but scientology (they don't deserve the respect of capitalization) takes the cake for pure nuttiness. Defending them is a lost cause people.

(Reply to this)

evilralphwiggum writes:
on Mar 15 2006 07:28 AM

[b]Scientology[/b]
what a load of crap

(Reply to this)

hellhole writes:
on Mar 15 2006 08:09 AM

In reply to this comment (#832119)
"Jesus himself has been a supporting character, and was always shown respectfully -"

Well... not always. Playing devil's advocate for a moment, they've taken some pretty funny potshots at Jesus over the years (insulting the viewers of his daytime television show, winning a boxing match with Satan only due to a thrown fight, et cetera).

They may not have ripped on him quite as badly as celebrities like Mel Gibson or Tom Cruise, but they've still gone for him a couple of times.

(Reply to this)

amamamy writes:
on Mar 15 2006 09:01 AM

In reply to this comment (#832139)
[b]Get your facts straight and use your head.[/b]
So...if someone told me that a head of lettuce was God and I believed them and started my own "church" to worship the head of lettuce...you're telling me that I should be respected for my beliefs instead of heavily medicated? Not to mention I should receive tax-exempt status for my church? Come on. Use your head.

Scientologists are cult members. It's pathetic. It's not rocket science...well...actually it is rocket science fiction.

Also...Jedi is not considered a religion in Australia. A few years ago a bunch of people put it on their census forms as a joke and it made the news. End of story. Jeez.

(Reply to this)

Paulie-X writes:
on Mar 15 2006 09:49 AM

I don't watch the show, but I know about it.

Hayes is an idiot.

(Reply to this)

ThomasElla writes:
on Mar 15 2006 04:55 PM

In reply to this comment (#832145)
If you can somehow get enough followers for your lettuce religion, then you'd probably be tax-exempt, yeah, maybe. And even though I wouldn't be able to respect your beliefs, I'd respect the fact that you believe them and try not to insult it. I think that Scientology was probably just the beginnings of a new science fiction novel for L Ron Hubbard, so believe me when I say that I totally agree with you about how crazy Scientology sounds, but the difference is that I try to be tolerant of them regardless of how I feel.

I mean, c'mon, there was a South Park episode about pretty much the same thing, where Mr. Garrison tried to get fired for being gay.

(Reply to this)

South_park300 writes:
on Mar 15 2006 07:11 PM

looks like Comedy Central gave in again. They were supposed to show the Scientology episode again tonight at 10pm, but are now instead showing a much older episode. Oddly enough, it's the episode where Chef sings "Salty Chocolate Balls."

...it's almost like a middle finger from Comedy Central

(Reply to this)

tdurden1138 writes:
on Mar 16 2006 11:32 AM

In reply to this comment (#832132)
and we cant forget the fact that the great messiah L Ron Hubbard has been quoted as saying " I think I'll found a religion. Thats where the money is." hes been QUOTED as saying that a little over 10 years before he founded this huge joke. And, everyones in such an uproar over Trey and Matt displaying the message of "this is what scientologists actually believe" during the scene explaining its history. thats because NO ONE WOULD F*CKING BELIEVE IT OTHERWISE! they ewould think that was part of the comedy and not what THEY ACTUALLY BELIEVE!

(Reply to this)

tdurden1138 writes:
on Mar 16 2006 11:40 AM

In reply to this comment (#832144)
Jesus himself has been a supporting character, and was always shown respectfully

HAS NOONE SEEN THE EPISODE WHERE THEY BLOW JESUS THE F*CK AWAY IN IRAQ? how is that showing him in a respectable light? has no one seen the mormonism episode? christ, do some f*cking research before you bitch about a show youve obviously only seen a few episodes of. South Park is the smartest, funniest show on tv. its satire is spot on and anyone who would threaten to sue a show that is so brilliant(tom cruise), it just shows that youre as nucking futs as everyone says you and youre fellow drones are

(Reply to this)

ThomasElla writes:
on Mar 16 2006 02:43 PM

In reply to this comment (#832150)
Don't you mean when they blew Santa up in Iraq? They might have also done this with Jesus, but I don't remember that. They've never totally denounced any religion other than Scientology before. They may have made people of different faiths look pretty bad, like making the Jews look petty and overbearing and the Catholics look like child molesters, but they never declared a religion false before. You'd think that Trey and Matt could've at least respected the religion enough to recognize that one of the most talented members of the cast is of it and might take it badly when they declare it false and a scam.

Anyways, this is really depressing to read especially when most of the people here are probably American and supposed to respect the whole freedom of religion thing. If South Park has taught us anything, it's that tolerance is something that everyone should practice- tolerance doesn't mean that you have to like something, just put up with it.

(Reply to this)

tdurden1138 writes:
on Mar 16 2006 03:17 PM

In reply to this comment (#832151)
that is exactly what im talking about. they shot down santas slay and torture santa, but when the boys bring in jesus to help with the rescue mission, they shoot and kill JESUS! stop postin shit about the show if you dont know what youre talking about.

(Reply to this)

ThomasElla writes:
on Mar 16 2006 04:22 PM

In reply to this comment (#832152)
Nah, I just haven't seen the episode in awhile. I just remembered Santa flying over Iraq, then somebody firing a rocket at him and shooting him down, reminiscent of Black Hawk Down, then I just kind of forgot the rest. I've seen practically every episode, but some of them are kind of fuzzy in my memory.

(Reply to this)

General Patton writes:
on Mar 17 2006 09:17 AM

[b]Eh. Whatever.[/b]
Matt and Trey have pushed the envelope for close to ten years now. I love it, but they should be well prepared for the consequences. They've alienated plenty of people before, and I'm sure Hayes isn't the first CC employee to be angered over it. I still think he's full of it to quit over 'criticizing religion' when the show does this constantly. I have not seen the scientology epidoe, but I have heard that it's one of the harshest yet. So maybe Hayes felt that it went in too deep, whereas the other episodes didn't. I wonder if they cleared it with him first, or at least warned him ... ?

It sucks because I like Chef, but the show will be fine.

(Reply to this)

mstiefan writes:
on Mar 17 2006 09:22 AM

In reply to this comment (#832102)
[b]Hmm[/b]
I think its doubly ironic that Isaac Hayes then goes on Opie an Anthony, a show that was ridiculed for sponsoring two people to have sex in a church, and discusses his thoughts on religious intolerance.

Trapped in the Closet espisode awas excellent. I actually took it more as a shot at Tom Cruise and R Kelly's ridiculous trapped in the closet song than at Scientology on the whole. If the story is true of what they believe, "the disclaimer at the bottom says it is", then it was also educational and incredibly funny.

I thought the mormon episode was much more blatantly sinister, but its also one of the best southpark's ever. Trapped in the closet had commentary on other events and people besides scientology, while the mormon episode was just all about mormons.

Best thing about southpark is their ability to be the only current animated show. Simpson's family guy are excellent, but only south park can take an event that happened days before and work it into an episode. Saddam's capture added to the wizard of oz canada episode, paula poundstone's troubles, Katrina, and Terri Schiavo (leading to their emmy winning show, by the way) are all examples. THey have a week to work a Chef related incident into something for the new episode. I'd vote for Chef's TV killing him finally.

Chef hasn't been in too many episodes since the Cancelled one is season 7. He may also be annoyed with his lack of involvement in the show. I had also heard that season 10, this spring and next fall, would be the last season for south park anyway, thus I'm not sure how tragic this loss is.

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lavatory love machine writes:
on Mar 17 2006 10:42 PM

I think people here is getting a little confused talking about belief and respect for each others faith

this is all about money, nothing more

that crazy cult lost money with that episode, so they're pissed off

the same way the war in irak is sopoused to be about freedom and security, but actually is about oil

IMO if there are people stupid enough to believe in that crap, then they deserve to be taken advantage of and they're not worthy of out pity and symphaty, it's the only way they learn

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synergyred writes:
on Mar 19 2006 01:20 PM

I just saw the Scientology episode and I didn't find it that offensive. Yes, they parodied Scientologists, but it wasn't as bad as the way they have parodied other religions (anyone remember the episode where the preists were pissed because they couldn't get away with molesting children anymore?). I personally think that Tom Cruise fans would be more insulted than Scientologists cause they're REALLY mean to him, which I didn't mind :)

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Redfire29 writes:
on Mar 20 2006 01:21 PM

South Park has lampooned many major and minor religions since they came on the air. For example:

Christianity: Pope is an old fart, all priests molest children, all traiditions are stupid and useless, everyone worships a giant spider. In the episide "Red Sleigh Down", Jesus kills Iraqi's using guns and knives, and is killed later in the episode. Yet how many people took them seriously when the PHYSICAL REPRESENTATION of their God was killed? It was a joke, and it was well-understood.

Judiasm: Moses is a giant face of pure energy, everyone is a "covetous jew", racist remarks are made many times an episode,there is an episode called "The Passion of the Jew", Most importantly, Adolph Hitler sings "O Tenenbaum" and I never heard of any negative press for it. It was meant to push the envelope.

Mormonism: A chorus of "dumb dumb dumb" accompanied the creator of the religion where ever he went. This religion got almost exactly the same treatment of Scientology in terms of discounting and insulting its origin story. There was even a Mormon character that said their religion was a sham. Yet where was the Mormon reaction, or a reaction from Isaac Hayes? Again, nothing.

Basically, Isaac quitting because Matt and Trey insulted Scientology is blatant hypocrisy. Whether Scientology is a stable religion is a separate debate.

To those who are citing the "intolerance" of others, you missed the moral of that episode:

Being tolerant of a religion is different than agreeing with it. The religion is a sham, a trick, a ploy, and a scheme, nothing more. Those who believe in it are sheep that are willingly brainwashed into doing so. I can say this because it is my right to say it (Thank you First Amendment).

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malcalypse writes:
on Apr 17 2006 06:45 PM

[b]Clearing up Info[/b]
In response to several points made:

Despite peoples' views that Scientology is a cult, it legally is not.
There is a board in the US that declares whether something is a religion or not. The IRS. Scientology was deemed a religion by the IRS.
"On 8 October 1993, tens of thousands of Scientologists from all corners of the globe gathered to hear the historic news: the United States government had just granted full religious recognition to the churches of Scientology, finding them �organised exclusively for religious and charitable purposes.� -Church of Scientology International

South park has attacked other religions;
South park said that the catholic church was run by "the great queen spider" and say "to hell with the holy document of vatican law" (608 - Red Hot Catholic Love)
South park wrote a song about mormanism saying dumb dumb dumb after ever verse. (712 - All about mormons)
These are just examples that i remembered offhand, i'm sure there are way more.

I hope this cleared up a few of the incorrect arguments made above. Remember,

the mus-eum tells us to be TOL-OR-ANT! Don't bash what people believe. Instead, try to understand WHY they believe it. I visited a church of scientology once, just to see what it was all about. It (in my view) had as many positive and negative aspects as many other religions. They just have a different focus, and perhaps Scietology is better adapted to modern day beliefs then out dated religions like catholicism (my religion).

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