Isaac Hayes says he has had it with South Park. Since 1997, he has voiced the character of Chef, the ladies' man/school cook that the kids look up to on the animated Comedy Central satire.
"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."
Hayes, a Scientologist, did not specifically cite in his complaint the 2005 "Trapped in the Closet" episode, which goofed on Scientology with visits from Tom Cruise and John Travolta.
"There is a place in this world for satire,” Hayes said, “but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry towards religious beliefs of others begins."
South Park co-creator Matt Stone told the AP: "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."
The AP report continues:
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."
Links:
Watch the episode about Scientology
South Park Studios homepage
South Park | Chef | Isaac Hayes
Scientology | Tom Cruise | John Travolta
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