"In 10 years and over 150 episodes of 'South Park,' Isaac never had a problem with the show making fun of Christians, Muslims, Mormons and Jews. He got a sudden case of religious sensitivity when it was his religion featured on the show."
-South Park creator Matt Stone on Isaac Hayes' sudden departure from the show

As a devout fan of the Comedy Central series "South Park", I am greatly disappointed and surprised at this announcement. I don't know if I more shocked that Chef, one of the oldest and greatest characters of this classic show, is actually leaving or that Shaft is a scientologist. The episode where scientology is made of fun, "Trapped in the Closet", was not unlike any other that picked on a particular religion. The great part about South Park is that it could make light of the absurdity behind most belief systems while making it clear that, in the end, it's okay to devote yourself to anything you want, if that makes you happy.

"Trapped in the Closet" was actually quite tame compared to other religious-bent episodes. It mostly made fun of Tom Cruise and John Travolta, and implied that, like alot of religions, scientology was as much about money as it was about anything else (a claim that hardly originated with the writers of a cartoon series). One show that took on Catholics and the idea of miracles, actually had the new Pope leaning next to a statue of the Virgin Mary farted blood onto his face. And if that wasn't bad enough, the Pope then declared that this was no miracle because the blood was coming from the statue's vagina, not it's asshole; and because "chicks bleed out their vaginas all the time", this was no miracle.

That scene almost offended me, and I am a very hard person to offend. That's why it's so hard to believe that this is the real reason Hayes is leaving the show. The scientology episode aired at least two years ago; why is he doing this now? Over the years, Chef has become less and less of a central character, but his insight and presence as the only sane adult in town were always welcome.

Hayes, a famous soul singer in his own right, was well known before he started to voice the character in 1997. It seemed he took the job because he thought it was funny. I'm sure there wasn't a lot of money in it, at first. In a way, when the series took off and became one of cable TV's highest rated show, it helped to revive Hayes' stalling career. A whole new generation got to hear his deep soul voice, albeit through songs like "Chocolate Salty Balls", but exposure nonetheless.

Maybe we'll never know the real truth, and perhaps his departure is due to his connection to scientology. It wouldn't be the first time that something strange and celebrity-related is tied to the religion. I'm mostly curious how this is going to be handled on the show. What will become of Chef? At least we don't have to wait long, new episodes air at the end of March.