Issac Hayes Quits South Park

Isaac Hayes, best known for his role as Shaft, and most recently as Chef on South Park is demanding to be released from his South Park contract because of “what he feels are inappropriate ridiculte of religious communities” by South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker.  The devout Scientologist, issued the following statement:  

 “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. Religious beliefs are sacred to people, and at all times should be respected and honored. As a civil rights activist of the past 40 years, I cannot support a show that disrespects those beliefs and practices.”

Co-creator Trey Parker offered the following in reponse to Hayes’s statement.

“This has nothing to do with intolerance and bigotry and everything to do with the fact that Isaac Hayes is a Scientologist and that we recently featured Scientology in an episode of ‘South Park.’ In 10 years and over 150 episodes of ‘South Park,’ Isaac never had a problem with the show making fun of Christians, Muslims, Mormons and Jews. He got a sudden case of religious sensitivity when it was his religion featured on the show. To bring the civil rights struggle into this is just a non-sequitur. Of course we will release him from his contract and we wish him well.”

What does this all mean to us?  No more chocolate salty balls.  Bye Chef.