Chocolate salty balls may soon be off the menu at South Park’s elementary school.
Isaac Hayes, who lends his soulful voice to the Comedy Central series character, Chef, is seeking a release from his contract. The 63-year-old singer said creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone — who have broached controversial topics including Catholicism, President Bush’s politics, and Paris Hilton’s escapades, on the show — crossed the line in a recent episode, according to the Associated Press.
Hayes released a statement yesterday: “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.”
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In the past nine years, however, Hayes has supported blaming Canada, suggesting “Christmas poo” be the icon for the holiday, and having lone Jewish kid Kyle croon a lament about being alone on Christmas.
While the episode that he takes issue with is not explicitly noted, Hayes, a Scientologist, is likely referring to the show’s recent episode, which pokes fun at the religion.
Stone told the AP that he and Parker “never heard a peep out of Isaac in any way until we did Scientology. He wants a different standard for religions other than his own, and to me, that is where intolerance and bigotry begin.”
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