'Chef' wants out of 'South Park' contract

UPI ^ | 3/13/06

[HairOfTheDog]

NEW YORK, March 13 (UPI) -- Religious parody on "South Park" has led Isaac "Chef" Hayes to quit the Comedy Central cartoon.

Hayes, who has been with "South Park" since 1997, issued a statement Monday saying he has requested a release from the show because of recent episodes displaying "inappropriate ridicule of religious communities."

"There is a place in this world for satire, but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry toward religious beliefs of others begins," Hayes said.

"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."

Hayes did not specify any episodes in particular, but a recent show called "Bloody Mary," which included the defiling a statue of the Virgin Mary drew fire from Roman Catholic groups.

[subterfuge]

He is banned alright.

[HamiltonJay]

Funny he had no issue with them portraying the pope as a doddering idiot for 9 years.. or Jews for 9 years but they mock Scientology and suddenly he's got a problem.... Or more importantly his Scientologist mentors ordered him to have a problem with it....

[mainepatsfan]

Each season I think Parker and Stone can't get any better. Then they hit us with the Scientology and the global warming episodes.

[HamiltonJay]

He personally may not even be upset, but his handlers sure as hell told him he better get away from the show now or suffer the consequences... that's how it is with cults.

[CounterCounterCulture]

The underpants gnomes took all his underwear. That has to be the real reason. And Chef didn't get a cut in the profit$ either. :-/

[I see my hands]

Don't start out offering ThreeFiddy, Linda! Work up to it.

[eyespysomething]

I said, "What do you want from us monster?" and the monster bent down and said, "I need about tree fiddy."

[mainepatsfan]

I'm going to miss Chef's parents more than Chef.

[HairOfTheDog]

What happened to Evening Star?? He is certainly no rabble-rouser!

I hope we can unrouse his rabble if he did!

I hope he can be reinstated!

[trashcanbred]

Children ... I did not know that. That explains everything. Why would the article talk about Bloody Mary and ignore this obvious connection?

That is a very good question. I have known for a while Chef was a Scientologist and figured that was why South Park never made fun of them. When that episode came on I figured "Oh oh... what are you doing children?"

[HairOfTheDog]

I'm going to miss Chef's parents more than Chef.

Me too.... "OH Don't let him get in the pot roast!"

[CounterCounterCulture]

Ah bummer.

[Space Wrangler]

Hayes did not specify any episodes in particular, but a recent show called "Bloody Mary," which included the defiling a statue of the Virgin Mary drew fire from Roman Catholic groups.

Are journalists so friggin' lame that they cannot even figure out that Hayes is $cientologist, and that the epsiode he is pi$$ed about is the one that skewers $cientology?? Jeez!!!!

[Alexander Rubin]

Bring back Evening Star. We need our South Park fix!

[HairOfTheDog]

I can only say "Yes, they are that lame."

[Feiny]

I've checked his recent posting history & see nothing offensive. Someone probably got their panties in a twist about something. Banning & suspensions seem to come quickly these days & without just cause.

[justshutupandtakeit]

It isn't as though replacing him will be hard.

[mainepatsfan]

"Rob Schneider was a mildly successful comedic actor who seemed to have it all...until one day.."

[mainepatsfan]

They don't want to get sued.

[gondramB]

"What happened to Evening Star?? He is certainly no rabble-rouser!"

He was in a thread that became about whether Americans who allow abortions are the same as Muslims who don't stand up against Islamofacists.