September 29th 2024.
Isaac Hayes' departure from South Park has been the subject of much speculation and rumor, but it seems like the truth has finally come to light. For those who may not know, the late musician voiced the beloved character Chef in the animated comedy series from 1997 to 2006. However, he left the show after an episode titled "Trapped in the Closet" aired in 2005, which took a jab at Scientology.
It had been previously reported that Hayes, who was a practicing Scientologist himself, tried to have the episode pulled but was unsuccessful. He later announced his departure from the show, stating that while satire has its place, the episode crossed the line into intolerance and bigotry towards religious beliefs. This unexpected decision left many fans and colleagues confused and curious about the true reasons behind his exit.
Recently, a memo written the day after the controversial episode aired has surfaced, shedding more light on the situation. The memo, written by former Scientology executive Mike Rinder who has since left the Church, stated that the episode was a total mockery of Scientology and its followers, as well as actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta. It also revealed that Hayes was very upset about the episode and had expressed his anger to the show's creators, Matt Stone and Terry Parker.
The memo also disclosed that Hayes had called the President of Comedy Central, Doug Herzog, to try and convince him not to re-air the episode. It ends with a three-part plan that Hayes had suggested, including handling Stone, Parker, and Herzog to persuade them not to air the episode again. He also reportedly wanted Comedy Central to sever ties with Mark Ebner, who had consulted on the show and was accused by Hayes of being a racist and a bigot.
Unfortunately, Hayes' suggestions were not followed, and the episode was eventually nominated for an Emmy. Stone and Parker have previously spoken about how Scientology played a role in Hayes' departure, revealing that he had been sent by someone to ask them to pull the episode.
However, Hayes' son, Isaac Hayes III, has a different perspective on the situation. He explained that at the time of the episode's airing, his father had suffered a stroke and had lost the ability to speak. He was also surrounded by people who were involved in Scientology, and someone had quit the show on his behalf. This left the family feeling frustrated and disappointed, especially with the statement released by Hayes' team that implied he had left the show due to his beliefs.
Stone and Parker also voiced their frustrations, saying that they knew something deeper and more troubling was going on behind the scenes. They were also upset by the statement released, which painted them as bigots. The Daily Beast has reached out to the Church of Scientology for comment on these revelations.
If you have any further information or insights into this situation, please reach out to The Agency entertainment team via email, phone, or by visiting our website. We would love to hear from you.
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