“To be honest, what kept us from doing it before was Isaac Hayes. We knew he was a Scientologist and he’s an awesome guy. We’re like, ‘Let’s just avoid that for now. Finally, we just had to tell Isaac, ‘Dude, we totally love working with you, and this is nothing personal, it’s just we’re South Park, and if we don’t do this, we’re belittling everything else we’ve ripped on.’”

After 9 seasons as the lovable, centered & wise Chef on the always sly, controversial, and humorous show that is South Park the two have departed ways. The first thing you would figure is that Isaac Hays would be leaving over money but that is not the case as he is currently locked in a established contract and just wants out of it. No it seems his sudden need to get out of the animated lime light of South Park is largely and possible entirely due to the “Trapped in the Closet” episode that aired back in November in which Trey Parker and Matt Stone wrote a scathing satire of the Scientology faith and the personal quirks of three celebrities who cant seems to leave the plush closet in a child’s room.

The fact that Mr. Hayes leaves after this episode is both sad considering the kind of pressure the Scientology community can exert over him and personally more insulting over the fact that the “Trapped in the Closet” is a stylistic copy of the even funnier and more scathing episode ” All About the Mormons?” and no one quit or was up in arms about that episode. In fact when Isaac Hays quit he had to following to say about it:

“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.”

Where did Civil Rights come into play at all? How does the equal application of parody equate to the undermining of the following definition of Civil Rights?

The rights belonging to an individual by virtue of citizenship, especially the fundamental freedoms and privileges guaranteed by the 13th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and by subsequent acts of Congress, including civil liberties, due process, equal protection of the laws, and freedom from discrimination.

If your going to quit over image problems and community pressure then quit but don’t cloak it as some kind of minority or black protection issue saying things like that is pure fiction but so is Dianetics so I guess we can let it slide.

Trackback