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

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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."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060313/ap_ ... saac_hayes

I was wondering what Hayes's take on the Scientology episode was. That sucks, but Chef has not been a very big part of the show for quite awhile now.

It's funny, in an earlier interview he said something to the effect of "It's cool, they just don't understand the religion." Now he seems to have done a 180. I wonder if (just maybe) he was pressured by some people....

What a cop out, for 8 years it was ok but now its a problem?

What a little bitch.

It's true. Fuck the Scientologists anyway, or anyone who can't take a joke for that matter.

Lame. Someone needs to slap the nonsense outta that guy.

I think that sums it up. He was on Opie and Anthony a couple months back and seemed okay with joking about Scientology.


I dont think this was his decision.

[quote="SFP"]Lame./quote]

they are still making south park?

New season starts March 22nd. I wonder what they'll do w/o Chef.

I hope they purposefully hire someone with a high-pitched voice who sounds completely unlike Hayes and who rants about the craziness of Scientology. That would be very Matt & Trey-like.

Well, they know that it would get old after two episodes, so who knows.

Reason #786 scientologists are insane.

Ahem, this is 787. Duh.

No, 787 has to do with Xenu's bidet.

Everybody should leave South Park.

Scientology isn't a religion, it's a fashion statement.

Whatever they do I'm sure it will be hilarious. They seem pretty bitter about his decision to leave the show, and I don't blame them for feeling that way.