Religious Tolerance

Kadydid · #1 (**permalink**) 03-14-2006, 11:12 AM

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/news...-SOUTHPARK.xml

By Steve Gorman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Veteran soul singer Isaac Hayes, voice of the libidinous character "Chef" on the satiric cable TV cartoon "South Park," said on Monday he was quitting the show, citing its "inappropriate ridicule" of religion.

"There is a place in this world for satire, but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry towards religious beliefs ... begins," Hayes said in a statement.
Hayes, 63, a devoted follower of the Church of Scientology, did not mention a "South Park" episode that aired last fall poking fun at Scientology and some of its celebrity adherents, including actor Tom Cruise.

Rather, Hayes said the show's parody of religion is part of what he saw as a "growing insensitivity towards personal spiritual beliefs" in the media generally, including the recent controversy over cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad.

The singer, who became the first black composer to win an Oscar for best song with his theme to the film "Shaft," said he formally asked to be released from his contract with "South Park," on the Comedy Central cable channel.

A spokesman for the Viacom Inc.-owned network said producers of the show and its creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, had agreed not to "enforce" Hayes' contract.

"Obviously, Matt and Trey are disappointed that he's not going to be part of the show, but they're not going to make him do something he doesn't want to do," the spokesman, Tony Fox, told Reuters.

However, he said Stone and Parker "feel that it's a bit disingenuous (for Hayes) to cite religious intolerance as a reason for him pulling out of the show" because the series has lampooned religion since its start, taking shots at Catholics, Jews, Muslims and Mormons, among others.

The series grew out of two short films by Parker and Stone, "Jesus vs. Frosty" and "The Spirit of Christmas," the latter featuring a martial-arts duel between Jesus and Santa Claus over the true meaning of Christmas.

"Their premise is as long as you can make fun of everybody, then everybody is a potential target," Fox said. "The minute you start pulling punches, then the show's reason for being sort of gets compromised."
The crudely animated cartoon, heading into its 10th season next week as one of Comedy Central's biggest hits, centres on the antics of four foul-mouthed fourth graders in the town of South Park, Colorado.

Hayes joined the show in 1997, supplying the baritone voice of Jerome "Chef" McElroy, the rotund school cafeteria cook whom the boys often seek out for advice.

In an episode last fall, one of the gang, Stan, scores so high on a Scientology test that church followers think he is the next L. Ron Hubbard, the late science-fiction writer who founded the religion. Hayes did not take part in that episode.

In an interview with Reuters late last year, Hayes talked about a foundation he formed to bring Scientology-based study techniques to disadvantaged inner-city schools, in partnership with fellow devotee Lisa Marie Presley.

"But it's not religious," he said then. "It's just something that people need."

I'm sorry but what a cry baby. He was fine with them picking on the rest of the religions as long as they stayed away from his. I do not like this show, but I have seen a few episodes and I thought they were in very bad taste. But thats kind of the point, they are trying to be tasteless.

Do you really think Mr. Hayes was worried about Religious Tolerance when they were poking fun of Jesus or Mohamed? I think not.

midwifemommyofmany · #2 (**permalink**) 03-14-2006, 11:18 AM

I'm sorry but what a cry baby. He was fine with them picking on the rest of the religions as long as they stayed away from his. I do not like this show, but I have seen a few episodes and I thought they were in very bad taste. But thats kind of the point, they are trying to be tasteless.

I actually saw the Scientology show and thought it was hilarious. I kinda like South Park because I see it beyond its initial crude humor to the more politically directed motivations (which isn't really left or right, more middle ground...poking fun at extremes, etc...). There have been PLENTY of shows poking fun at Jews...and Christianity is also high on the list of things poked fun at (like the whole episode where Cartman decides to become a religious singer in Faith + 1...lol!). So yes, I think he is a bit of a cry baby.

snickers · #3 (**permalink**) 03-14-2006, 11:20 AM

It is a bit weird concidering they have always poked fun of religions. It took him doing the show for almost 10 years to get offended? I'm not a regular viewer, but have they gotten worse with the paradys on religion?

Caryn1003 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-14-2006, 11:22 AM

I thought that episode was hilarious too. I read a different article about this, and I have to agree, what a crybaby. He had no problem making fun of every other religion. Even the creator of the show said that.

Jescafa · #5 (**permalink**) 03-14-2006, 11:37 AM

ITA. Did you see the one where they made fun of Mormons? It was absolutely merciless.

Emaline · #6 (**permalink**) 03-14-2006, 12:12 PM

It is a bit weird concidering they have always poked fun of religions. It took him doing the show for almost 10 years to get offended?

That is exactly what I was thinking reading this. Just now he is getting all offended? Hell I love South Park but there have been episodes that have offended me, who cares? You move on. I think it great that Matt and Trey are not being jerks about this, especially with how he is acting. I'm wondering if someone from within his church is putting the pressure on him.

BobbiJo139 · #7 (**permalink**) 03-14-2006, 01:48 PM

I read that article on msn and my first thought was he didn't have a problem when they were insulting other people's religions. The one on Mormonism was really mean. My thoughts our that is what happen when you hold religious beliefs in a country with freedom of expression. People make fun of them....get over it.

roxrkool · #8 (**permalink**) 03-14-2006, 07:27 PM

Yup, sure looks like he's a hypocrite.

Mumfie · #9 (**permalink**) 03-15-2006, 03:00 AM

I love South Park.

fanof24 · #10 (**permalink**) 03-15-2006, 07:58 AM

If he's so mad about it, he should blame Tom Cruise. That quack is one of the reasons it has been so easy to poke fun at.

I agree that he is being a crybaby. 10 years of poking fun of every other religion but his own was ok?

davenrae · #11 (**permalink**) 03-15-2006, 08:43 AM

I'm not so sure that he's a crybaby. People should be allowed to grow out of things and change their minds. Maybe he's tired of doing the show. It has been ten years.

BTW... I

South Park.

geela · #12 (**permalink**) 03-15-2006, 09:09 AM

You are right Daven, people do change and grow, buuuuuuut it seems pretty coincidental that he was ok up until they poked fun at his religion.

pwfaith · #13 (**permalink**) 03-15-2006, 01:13 PM

I don't particularly care for South Park, just b/c I think it's a stupid show, regardless of what the current issue is their poking fun at. ITA with Fox though, you KNOW that's how the show is. At least they are pretty consistant and "equal" in their ridicule. Hubby use to watch it (LONG time ago when I wasn't in the picture yet lol) and thought it was funny. I do sorta agree with the 2nd part of his statement though "but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry towards religious beliefs ... begins" but also agree that it's odd he didn't have a problem until his own religion was on the ridicule block. I could understand where he was coming from more if it was the only religion they were making fun of but as I said it seems their pretty balanced in picking on a wide variety of religious belief systems and that's kinda the whole intent of the show to pick fun at things/people/beliefs/politics/etc in a crude manner.

davenrae · #14 (**permalink**) 03-15-2006, 05:38 PM

In an episode last fall, one of the gang, Stan, scores so high on a Scientology test that church followers think he is the next L. Ron Hubbard, the late science-fiction writer who founded the religion.
That was a while ago. I would hope that if he'd huge had a problem with it, he would've asked to get out of his contract then.

DuchsLove · #15 (**permalink**) 03-15-2006, 11:22 PM

Hmmmm..he's been involved with the show for ten years...and it has made him a millionaire, if not a multi-millionaire. It has always been a "crude" show. That hasn't changed. All of a sudden he has a problem... Whatever..doesn't wash with me.

Kadydid · #16 (**permalink**) 03-16-2006, 08:43 AM

In an interview with Reuters late last year, Hayes talked about a foundation he formed to bring Scientology-based study techniques to disadvantaged inner-city schools, in partnership with fellow devotee Lisa Marie Presley.

"But it's not religious," he said then. "It's just something that people need."

Did anyone notice this part?

Jonesey · #17 (**permalink**) 03-16-2006, 09:21 AM

I think he quit for his religion, probably Tom and John (and maybe the aliens) put the screws to him since that show. I'm really going to miss Chef though! I wonder will they can find someone to replace him?

"But it's not religious," he said then. "It's just something that people need."

yeah right.

ZackZaneMom · #18 (**permalink**) 03-16-2006, 01:58 PM

We do no watch South Park. I do think his way of thinking happens a lot though. Even here on the debate board. People will be rude, nasty, insult, whine, and when it happens to them, it's wrong. So why is it okay for you to do something but no one else can? I think if you can dish it out, then you should also know how to handle it when it happens to you.

roxrkool · #19 (**permalink**) 03-21-2006, 03:20 PM

Weird. I heard this morning on the radio that Hayes is now saying he never made those statements. Although I haven't seen anything about this in the news...

Jonesey · #20 (**permalink**) 03-21-2006, 07:19 PM

Tom C. stopped the network from showing the rerun of that show last Wednesday. Here is the response:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

So, Scientology, you may have won THIS battle, but the million-year war for earth has just begun! Temporarily anozinizing our episode will NOT stop us from keeping Thetans forever trapped in your pitiful man-bodies. Curses and drat! You have obstructed us for now, but your feeble bid to save humanity will fail! Hail Xenu!!!

-Trey Parker and Matt Stone, servants of the dark lord Xenu

fitting.