http://www.11alive.com/life/life_art...?storyid=77269

Isaac Hayes Quits 'South Park'
Provided By: The Associated Press
Last Modified: 3/13/2006 7:28:13 PM


By ERIN CARLSON
Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- 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."


(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

It would appear that when the shoe is on the other foot some people just can't take it. Now I love South Park its one of the best satire shows in the history of televison. Sortof ironic isn't it though, that its ok to satire every other religion, but the first second it hits home Hayes gets all offended and up and quites.

__________________
Nobody with open eyes can any longer doubt that the danger to personal freedom comes chiefly from the left. - F.A. Hayek

Where have all the Conservatives Gone?

There is always hope, as long as one can think.

to take anyone seriously who believes in scientology.

Thats too bad.

But at least he stood up for himself.

But that episode was hilarious.

The funniest part was Stan explains the secrets of Scientology with a constant "This is what they actually believe" stamp on the bottom of the screen.

So what, it is his personal choice and if i was him i would do it too. Weren't you the and Barney-fife the one agreeing with O'Reilly's theory of the War against Christmas, so how i that different than Hayes quitting South Park.

__________________
In the land of the blind, the man with one eye is the king
- Nas

Mainly because Hayes seemed to be fine with skewering Christians, Jews, blacks, whites, Indians, conservatives, liberals, homosexuals, homophobes, environmentalists, crack whores, disabled people, and just about any particular group you could find. Suddenly when it's the Scientologists he finds it demeaning? If you have watched the show at all, you know the only sacred cow is Brian Boitano. Anyone and everyone else gets it in the chops. I find Hayes suddenly having issue with it a bit cheesy. If he was going to have a problem, you would have thought he would have had one in the first six or seven seasons.

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Catz: "And, the ever-sage Volvo Driver:"

I do agree but I think ppl shouldn't treat him any differently than O'Reilly wack war on christmas. I critize both equally b/c both act like they are above the rest and that their belief should be treated specially. Shame on Hayes and his fake relgion

__________________
In the land of the blind, the man with one eye is the king
- Nas

Maybe he didn't like the treatment of Christianity either in retrospect, but the attack on his own religion opened his eyes. That's the problem with soundbites. We don't know the deeper feelings on the issue. Sometimes seeing your own group ridiculed is what opens your eyes to a larger issue. Personally I could care less, but I'm not easily offended. That he did stand up for what he believes in might be admirable. All depends on what's between the soundbites. I often wonder if celebrities and politicians are really human underneath all the media hype.

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"Man lives in the sunlit world of that which he believes to be reality. But unseen by most is an underworld, a place that is just as real... but not as brightly lit... A DARK SIDE!"
-opening from Tales From the Darkside

It is possible that his eyes were finally opened. I can't say what his true motivations were, though it does seem hypocritical for him to suddenly develop a conscience only after his religion is ridiculed.

I'll miss Chef though.

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Catz: "And, the ever-sage Volvo Driver:"

Chef's Quitting Controversy

http://www.foxnews.com/printer_frien...8463,00.html#1
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Conspiracy ?

Whose Roger Friedman? I guess he works for Fox.

Anyway, he says Hayes doesn't really want to quit but someone quit it for him.

Also, I think their going to kill off chef tonight.

__________________
"If life were fair, Elvis would be alive and all the
impersonators would be dead.
-- Johnny Carson