Isaac Hayes quits South Park, citing
religious 'intolerance and bigotry'

From the AP via the Houston Chonicle:

Last November, South Park targeted the Church of Scientology and its celebrity followers, including actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta, in a top-rated episode called "Trapped in the Closet.'' In the episode, Stan, one of the show's four mischievous fourth graders, is hailed as a reluctant savior by Scientology leaders, while a cartoon Cruise locks himself in a closet and won't come out. Stone told The AP he and co-creator Trey 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.''

Click here for the rest.

So the show's been running for, what, nine years, and Hays only now decides that it's over the top. As much as I love the singer of "Shaft," the man who played the "Duke of New York" in Escape from New York, I've just got to call him a big pussy. That is soooooo like a Scientologist: freak out when your "religion" is criticized. Good thing there's not a lawsuit, or one hundred lawsuits, which is also soooooo like a Scientologist. Scientology is a big fucking joke, a total sham rip-off. If any religion deserves scorn and ridicule, it's Scientology. Too bad Hays feels he's got to go; I damned sure hope they continue on without him. Frankly, they're probably better off.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$