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Monday, March 20, 2006

Hayes quits South Park over faith

From the BBC - Tuesday, 14 March 2006

Singer Isaac Hayes is to stop providing the voice for a character in cartoon South Park because he objects to its "inappropriate ridicule" of religion. Hayes, 63, who is the voice of the lustful Chef, has been a regular on the show since its US TV debut in 1997. But co-creator Matt Stone said Hayes had "never had a problem" until the Scientology Church, to which Hayes belongs, was parodied. The show was insensitive to "personal spiritual beliefs", said Hayes.

"There is a place in this world for satire but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry toward religious beliefs begins," he said. Co-creator Stone said Hayes would be released from his contract and had the best wishes of the South Park team. Stone said: "In 10 years and over 150 episodes of South Park, Isaac never had a problem with the show making fun of Christians, Muslim, Mormons or Jews. "He got a sudden case of religious sensitivity when it was his religion featured on the show." The series tells the story of four boys in a dysfunctional Colorado town and regularly deals with sensitive subjects and sends up famous figures.

In a recent episode, one of the gang, Stan, did so well in a Scientology test that church followers thought he was the next L Ron Hubbard, the late science-fiction writer who founded Scientology. Hayes did not take part in that episode but has talked widely about his work for Scientology, which he calls "an applied religious philosophy". A spokesman for the show's makers Comedy Central said producers had not decided if Chef would be dropped from the show. The show sparked another religious row recently when an episode entitled Bloody Mary depicted a bleeding statue of the Virgin Mary. Catholics in the US criticised the show while church leaders in New Zealand called for a boycott of a broadcaster which planned to screen the episode. Osama Bin Laden was killed in another episode of the programme, which has seen guest cameos by the likes of George Clooney, who voiced a pet dog.

8 comments:

Juggling Mother said...

Sadly we see the same thing again and aain, even with the most "tolerant" faiths. It's ok when it's someone else, but not when it's MY God being ridiculed.

It would be funny if it wasn't such an indictment on society. I mean, have you ever read up on what scientologists believe? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha Ha Ha!

And once more, Ha ha Ha ha ha Ha.

But I bet you he was absolutely opposed to those damn islamofascists protesting about the Mohammed cartoons!

That's not the same thing at all. oh no....

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Have you heard the latest thing sbout this show? They evidentally pulled an episode that has aired before a few times, (I've not seen the episode in question) that dealt with Scientology, and the rumor is that Tom Cruise had somerthing to do with this being pulled...I say "rumor" because the T.C. camp denies it...but it was said that Cruise said he would refuse to do promotional stuff for his new movie for NOTHING, if this episode was aired...the tie in being that Comedy Central & Paramount Pictures are owned by Viacom...which certainly wouldn't be a stretch to believe they would cave..BUT...I have no idea if any of this is true,except that the NON-Airing of the episode in question IS true.

As to Issac Hayes...it's hard to believe he would quit over something that he knows this show is all about--irreverence!! I know he did, I just find it amazingly horrible! Why wasn't he upset about the send-up of all these other religeons??? OY! Help Us And Save Us, Oh Nurse!!

CyberKitten said...

Mrs A said: Sadly we see the same thing again and aain, even with the most "tolerant" faiths. It's ok when it's someone else, but not when it's MY God being ridiculed.

Naomi said: Why wasn't he upset about the send-up of all these other religeons???

One word I think: Hypocrisy.

Nails said...

I can't believe I haven't read this until now! Holy crap. I guess I'm not surprised. I'm sure his cult-handlers pressured him to quit.

Sadie Lou said...

Okay. Comedy Central is owned by Viacom. Viacom produced Mission Impossible 3 with you-know-who, our favorite kook, Tom Cruise. Cruise said that if the episode where his religion and himself gets made fun of doesn't get pulled off the air, he wasn't doing anymore promotions for M.I.3.
How's that for holding someone over a barrel? The creators of South Park had this awesome quote about Tom winning this battle but not the battle for Earth, or something--you should find it; hilarious.
I love how Christianity and other relgions got made fun of all day long but you mess with Scientology and all hell breaks loose.
Anyhoo...
(I haven't had much time to blog as of late)

CyberKitten said...

Sadie lou said: (I haven't had much time to blog as of late)

Nice to have you back. You've been missed.

Sadie Lou said...

Thanks! I miss being out of the loop. I need to do some catching up!

Gerry Watt said...

Obviously it's utter hypocrisy on Hayes' part if was true, but there are stories going around that Hayes is ill following a stroke and that the 'he quit over religion' story is a load of nonsense cooked up to give Scientology a worse rep than it already has.

If you go to foundry music (www.foundrymusic.com) you can download an interview in which Hayes explicitly states that he has NO problem with Matt and Trey making Scientology gags.

You can also watch the Tom Cruise 'Trapped in the closet' episode here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=9t8LkfRkIDk