Isaac Hayes quits South Park

segadreamcast · 14-03-2006 12:11pm #1

Ouch. Bad for South Park but, inversely, they are clever folks, they'll work around this and (I'd imagine) pull a good plot or two out of it.

ERIN CARLSON
The Associated Press

NEW YORK - 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."

Mr E · 14-03-2006 12:27pm

In fairness, Chef hasn't been in it for ages.

I find it funny that Isaac Hayes has no problems with people sucking his salty chocolate balls, but he does have an issue with taking the piss out of scientology?

Could it be a Parker/Stone/Hayes publicity push for the upcoming season 10 (which, coincidentally coincidentally coincidentally starts in 8 days)?

OFDM · 14-03-2006 1:31pm

Typical Scientology propaganda from Hayes - glad to see Matt and Trey see through it.

Pigman II · 14-03-2006 1:50pm

Big loss.... not. Chef has been nothing to that show for years. Cartman is the only unexpendable thing in SP so it doesn't really matter that Hayes has jumped.

That said tho I hope they do an ep now where they rip into Hayes just for the fun of it.

J.R.HARTLEY · 14-03-2006 4:56pm

Pigman II wrote:

Big loss.... not. Chef has been nothing to that show for years. Cartman is the only unexpendable thing in SP so it doesn't really matter that Hayes has jumped.

That said tho I hope they do an ep now where they rip into Hayes just for the fun of it.

that could be a double edged sword though, they could come off looking very bad if they do, they might not get people to work with them anymore

jor el · 14-03-2006 5:51pm

As TmB said already, Chef hasn't been in it in ages anyway, and even in the last few series he was nothing special anyway.

I didn't realise that Hayes was a Scientologist before now. Trey and Matt are right though, there wasn't a peap out of Hayes regarding the Virgin Mary bleeding out her ass was there?

On an OT note, during the Scientology episode they detailed what their belief system was. Does anyone know if this is all true, or if there was a certain amount of poetic licence involved? If it's true, then Scientologists are even weirder than I'd ever imagined they were.

norbert64 · 14-03-2006 5:52pm

Hayes is a scientologist?, I never knew.

would have to agree with J.R.H though, I'm not sure if it would be wise to start ripping into Hayes. I think they've responded well to his little speech, & they should just leave it @ that. :cool:

Tar.Aldarion · 14-03-2006 5:58pm

Abusing other religions is fine but not his 'religion'.
I would say he was under pressure from the Scientologists.

monkeyfudge · 14-03-2006 6:00pm

jor el wrote:

On an OT note, during the Scientology episode they detailed what their belief system was. Does anyone know if this is all true, or if there was a certain amount of poetic licence involved? If it's true, then Scientologists are even weirder than I'd ever imagined they were.

Yep. It's all true.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenu

True as in it's what they believe... not true in that it actually happened or anything.

cregser · 14-03-2006 6:41pm

monkeyfudge wrote:

Yep. It's all true.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenu

True as in it's what they believe... not true in that it actually happened or anything.

Wow. I thought South Park was taking the piss. My respect for Scientologists has dropped a few notches. I used to think they were just strangly happy people. But they're worse than people who go to Star Trek conventions :eek: a helluva lot worse.

Pigman II · 14-03-2006 6:53pm

cregser wrote:

Wow. I thought South Park was taking the piss. My respect for Scientologists has dropped a few notches.

Yeah I know what you mean. My respect for Scientologists would have dropped a few notches too after that but it was already at zero.

Ruskie4Rent · 14-03-2006 7:21pm

I can imagine them getting someone with an obviously different voice for chef. Maybe if it's just for one episode, cos i'm sure they wouldn't be able to resist referencing the incident.

Elmo · 14-03-2006 8:33pm

that could be a double edged sword though, they could come off looking very bad if they do, they might not get people to work with them anymore.

Well its not like they haven't ripped the piss out of others. I don't think they will care. Any I am sure that some can do his voice.

Also does no one post in the Prime Time Cartoons section?

J.R.HARTLEY · 14-03-2006 9:11pm

cregser wrote:

Wow. I thought South Park was taking the piss. My respect for Scientologists has dropped a few notches. I used to think they were just strangly happy people. But they're worse than people who go to Star Trek conventions :eek: a helluva lot worse.

worse than people who go to star trek conventions.... OR
worse than people who go to star trek conventions...............dressed as klingons

Chong · 14-03-2006 9:14pm

Cartman is the best cartoon characther ever, he shud have his own show.

de5p0i1er · 15-03-2006 3:57am

Gotta agree with there responce. For the record I hate all these cleb religons and stupid fads.

monkeyfudge · 15-03-2006 12:20pm

de5p0i1er wrote:

Gotta agree with there responce. For the record I hate all these cleb religons and stupid fads.

meh.... I'm pretty sure most religions start out as fads.

Atrocity · 15-03-2006 1:44pm

Typical Scientology crap, can't take any criticism or serious discussion about their beliefs. They've got a big money machine to protect.

Boo-yah · 20-03-2006 10:39am

Parker and Stone's reaction to the whole Scientology thing is priceless. They had the following printed in Variety magazine:

"So, Scientology, you may have won THIS battle, but the million-year war for earth has just begun!" the "South Park" creators said in a statement Friday in Daily Variety. "Temporarily anozinizing our episode will NOT stop us from keeping Thetans forever trapped in your pitiful man-bodies... You have obstructed us for now, but your feeble bid to save humanity will fail!"

Chardee MacDennis · 20-03-2006 2:24pm

Elmo wrote:

I am sure that some can do his voice.

i think they'll just replace his character he is never that important to an episode except the Succubus or in smaller assides like when he sings with James Taylor about prostitiutes etc, but can easily be replaced by another character.

Boo-yah · 20-03-2006 3:14pm

I hope they bring in Mr. Derp

Chong · 20-03-2006 3:28pm

Mr. Derp was funny.

shuushh · 21-03-2006 5:26pm

from imdb.com

Trey Parker and Matt Stone have filmed a last-minute episode of South Park in response to Scientologist Isaac Hayes' request to be released from his contract because the show mocked his religion. The creators are launching the tenth season of the series on US network Comedy Central on Wednesday, with an episode featuring Hayes' character Chef. Because South Park episodes only take six days to create, Stone and Parker were able to react to the current controversy soon after it happened. According to a Comedy Central press release, the show will feature, "The triumphant homecoming of school chef Jerome McElroy. While Stan, Kyle, Kenny and Cartman are thrilled to have their old friend back, they notice that something about Chef seems different. When Chef's strange behavior starts getting him in trouble, the boys pull out all stops to save him."

wow that didnt take them long did it ? Poor auld Issac

lostexpectation · 21-03-2006 8:28pm

http://www.moxiegrrrl.com/2006/03/salon-reports-isaac-hayes-may-not-have.html

Fox 411 is pretty unequivocal: "Isaac Hayes did not quit 'South Park.' My sources say that someone quit it for him.". Hayes has been recovering from a stroke he had in January, and friends say there's no way he made any statement against the show on his own.

or maybe this is just they makers parody on cartoon contraversy

Isaac Hayes suffers mild stroke
http://wmctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4375677

slipss · 22-03-2006 12:16am

yeah Hayes kept pretty quite about his view that South Park was too intolerant when they took the p1ss out of christianity, judaism, mormons, homosexuals, blacks, whites ect ect ect. I'd say he came under a lot of pressure from the puppet masters back at Scientology HQ, and who knows what dirt they build up to blackmail thier followers with, so it's not all his fault I suppose, if anyone hasn't seen the episode yet its fukkking hilarious

click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t8LkfRkIDk&search=trapped%20in%20the%20closet

Chevano Riley · 23-03-2006 8:49pm

anyone watch S10E01? was a sweet episode. reminded us to remember what a cool guy he used to be.

edit: sweet as in pleasant and heartwarming not "sweeeeeeeeet!!! dood"

Ruskie4Rent · 23-03-2006 10:30pm

Yeah i saw it. You could tell it was just a last minute type thing but it was funny still. I don't think people will mind the spoiler so i'll tell ya's he gets killed off in one of the most horrible(hilarious) manners.

Mossy Monk · 23-03-2006 11:25pm

Ruskie4Rent wrote:

You could tell it was just a last minute type thing

as are all episodes. they are made the week of broadcast

norbert64 · 23-03-2006 11:37pm

as xpected YT have Chef's death up already, it's just a clip though. They'll prolly post the full ep in time, lol.

YeatsCounty · 24-03-2006 1:20am

Great episode, a nice send off and "screw you" to Issac hayes at the same time. Loved the Scientologist parts. I wonder will

Darth Chef

be prominent in future episodes?

"I'm gonna make love to your asshole, children."

"This is what Super Adventure Club actually believes."

Poor Chef. (spoiler picture)

Ruskie4Rent · 24-03-2006 10:01am

Mossy Monk wrote:

as are all episodes. they are made the week of broadcast

I knew that but with other ones you could tell they've been sitting on some ideas for a number of weeks.

Pigman II · 24-03-2006 10:59am

Great Ep.

I hope

Darth Chef

makes an a reappearance some time.

Mossy Monk · 24-03-2006 1:03pm

i am sure he will

Boo-yah · 24-03-2006 2:34pm

I thought the episode was fantastic. It was hilarious but also a little sad. I hope to see more of The Super Adventure Club

netman · 24-03-2006 2:43pm

Well,

making fun of child molestation

is not cool.

I've had mixed impressions about this episode, there are some very funny and ridiculous parts, that make South Park, and then there are parts that just don't belong there.

Darth Chef

however was spot-on

YeatsCounty · 24-03-2006 2:57pm

bedlam wrote:

They repeatedly pointed out that it wasn't Chef that was the problem but the Super Adventure Club.

True, but what about

Chef's overlong death

? Yeah, that was to ensure "the end of Chef" if you will but it was a bit of a "screw you" moment also. Well I thought so anyway.

delly · 24-03-2006 3:09pm

Was a good episode all right. Hope that Chef's new character makes a follow up in future episodes.

ghost26ie · 24-03-2006 4:15pm

monkeyfudge wrote:

Yep. It's all true.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenu

True as in it's what they believe... not true in that it actually happened or anything.

they must be all mad to believe that S**t.

shroomfox · 24-03-2006 4:19pm

Oh man, check out the Spac Plane on that Wiki page. I nearly wet myself.

norbert64 · 24-03-2006 6:08pm

ghost26ie wrote:

they must be all mad to believe that S**t.

strictly speaking, I'm sure alorra ppl would have a similar view on any of the current religions.

slipss · 25-03-2006 9:31pm

norbert64 wrote:

strictly speaking, I'm sure alorra ppl would have a similar view on any of the current religions.

thats true but the difference is that it's pretty hard to say for certain weather the stuff in other religions is true or not, as in it's hard to disprove that jesus turned water into wine or that moses parted the red sea ect ect. I'ts very very easy to completely disprove alot of the stuff Scientologists believe in. Like the fact that hubbard names the volcanos that the aliens were supposed to be dropped into and many of them simply didn't exist 75 million years ago. The whole story is riddled with those types of glaring inaccuracies. And the fact that your man hubbard was a science fiction writer, it was his job to make these kinds of stories up, and he was quoted saying "if you wanna get rich make your own religion" or something to that effect more than once, I could go on and on but its a bit off topic so I'll just leave it there.

Running Bing · 25-03-2006 10:12pm

norbert64 wrote:

strictly speaking, I'm sure alorra ppl would have a similar view on any of the current religions.

The difference being that most religions were not thought up in 1952 by a science fiction author who was suffering financial difficulties:rolleyes:

madrab · 27-03-2006 11:36am

plus the fact that hubbard was quoted to be taking vast amounts of rum, anti-depressants & stimulants to "inspire him" while he was coming up with most of his "religion"

norbert64 · 27-03-2006 3:21pm

Babybing wrote:

The difference being that most religions were not thought up in 1952 by a science fiction author who was suffering financial difficulties:rolleyes:

I know all that :rolleyes:

I'm just saying it's not a simple case of ooh, they're all mad. If they choose to put there faith in this, who are we to judge them, since most current faiths/religions have alot of questions too. :cool:

Running Bing · 27-03-2006 3:48pm

If something inspires people to lead a better life and makes the world a better place then no matter how looney the beliefs it can only be a good thing in my opinion. However the issue with scientology is that there is a lot of question marks being raised about it and a lot we dont know. Check this out for example http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_McPherson. Add to this claims of brainwashing, criminal activities and that theres a good possibility that this is a scam to take money from vulnerable and emotionally unstable individuals and I feel this could be a very dangerous thing.

Whatever people say about the many questions in modern religions I know that I can go to my local synagogue, mosque, catholic or protestant church and give as small or large a commitment as I want and not have to spend a penny if I do not wish to do so. I dont think the same can be said of scientology.

Isaac Hayes quits South Park

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