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

Isaac Hayes Quits "South Park" Over Scientology Row

by Jen Yamato | March 13, 2006

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.

Hayes, who has become almost as known for his role as Chef (the "South Park" kids' only grown-up confidante) as he is for writing the legendary theme from "Shaft," is also a committed Scientologist. His objections come after "South Park" creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker ran an episode ridiculing the Scientology faith, which caricatured Hollywood's most famous Scientologist, Tom Cruise.

From the AP: "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.""

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Regardless of the reasons behind Hayes' departure, the character of Chef will surely be missed, along with his soulful singing of songs like "Chocolate Salty Balls (P.S. I Love You)" and "The Prostitute Song."

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(1-20 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.

(Reply to this)

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.

(Reply to this)

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.

(Reply to this)

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

(Reply to this)

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.

(Reply to this)

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.

(Reply to this)

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.

(Reply to this)

dracus writes:
on Mar 14 2006 07:42 AM

This is going to make for one very funny show.

(Reply to this)

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.

(Reply to this)

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.

(Reply to this)

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.

(Reply to this)

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

(Reply to this)

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).

(Reply to this)

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

(Reply to this)

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...................

(Reply to this)

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.

(Reply to this)

Landshark 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.

(Reply to this)

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!!!

(Reply to this)

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?

(Reply to this)

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?

(Reply to this)

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