Isaac Hayes dropped out of South Park earlier this week because it satirised Scientology. Given that the show takes great delight in causing maximum offence to just about everyone; that it should eventually take the rise out of Scientology ought to come as no surprise to anyone, least of all one of the actors involved. Hayes, who voiced the character of the school chef, wasn’t too worried about the sensibilities of insulted Jews, Muslims and Christians during the 150 epsiodes prior to this one, but when the subject of ridicule is Scientology, then he gets a sudden attack of sensitivity…
The show was insensitive to “personal spiritual beliefsâ€Â, said Hayes.
“There is a place in this world for satire but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry toward religious beliefs begins,†he said.
Feck me, I’d never have guessed. South Park is meant to be offensive. It has been from the start and he should know, he was involved. Seems to me that Isaac can dish it out okay but has difficulty handling it when it comes back to bite him on the bum.
Now, apparently Tom Cruise, another high profile Scientologist is getting involved in the row– or not, depending on who you believe… or not…
…the actor denied reports suggesting he had threatened not to promote his latest film Mission Impossible: 3 if the episode was broadcast.
Who knows what the truth is? Come to that, who cares? South Park is in the news and that is doubtless good for their viewing figures and the makers’ bank balances. Matt Stone and Trey Parker remain typically cheeky and upbeat:
“Curses and drat! You have obstructed us for now, but your feeble bid to save humanity will fail! Hail Xenu!!!â€Â
Whatever Cruise’s involvement, the lesson he, Hayes and the Scientologists need to learn is that if you really want to make a complete tit of yourself, throwing a huge public hissy fit over a half-hour programme that would otherwise go unremarked is as good a way of achieving it as any.
“…only I wouldn’t stop at just Scientology…”
Nor would I.
I label myself as Universist, a supposedly faithless religion only it’s really just a posh word for my own atheism and a way to deceive myself that there might be something more to being here. In time, I will drop this label by the wayside and embrace my truth but until then I shall carry on but in an unhypocritical self-deceit
‘obviously made-up, bogus and idiotic’
I’m in total agreement with Pete, only I wouldn’t stop at just Scientology….
:devil:
Expect this episode to have a higher than normal rating when it airs.
Actually, “if you really want to make a complete tit of yourself” I would suggest that publicly admitting to being a follower of anything as obviously made-up, bogus and idiotic as $cientology already fits the bill very nicely. The childish hissy fit is just a bonus.