Isaac Hayes Quits South Park Over "Religious Bigotry"

Bye, Chef!

Isaac Hayes has quit "South Park," where he voices Chef, saying he can no longer stomach its take on religion.

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"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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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."

I think Stone's being a prick, personally. When you do intentionally offensive humor, it can hardly come as a shock that some are, yes, offended.

I dig South Park. I've liked its hits on the strange beliefs of Mormons and Scientologists. But I hardly think it's outrageous for a Scientologist to get particularly upset when his own religion is attacked. In a perfect world, yes, we'd all be just as sensitive about the beliefs of others as we are of our own. But we don't live in that world; we live in reality.

The guy quit a show. It's his right. Does he have to be called a mercenary hypocrite for doing so?

The New Editor disagrees.

Which is their right.

But I think Stone is acting like the Goth kid who dresses and acts weird all the time and then gets full of self-righteous indignation when someone looks at him funny. Isn't that exactly the reaction you wanted, Matt?

posted by Ace at 03:15 AM

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