The history of the TV show South Park has not exactly been one of smooth
sailing and general acceptance. It's suffered all sorts of attacks from people,
for it's swearing, it's violence and it's casual attitude towards taking a
potshot at whatever creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker felt like.
However, the latest attack has come from within. Soul legend Isaac Hayes, who
plays Chef has been released from his contract citing "inappropriate ridicule of
religion".
Hayes, a Scientologist, said "There is a place for this world for satire, but
there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry towards religious
beliefs begins."
He specifically did not mention the South Park episode from last year that
poked fun at Scientology, in which Stan scored so highly in a "Scientology test"
that he was believed to be the next L. Ron Hubbard.
Matt and Trey, via a spokesman, said that "The premise is that as long as you
make fun of everybody, then everybody is a potential target. If we start pulling
punches, then the show's reason for being sort of gets
compromised."
