Isaac Hayes Quits South Park Over Jokes

(andPOP) - Perhaps South Park made one religious joke too many. At least that is the case for Isaac Hayes.

The deep-voiced singer-turned-South Park voice quit the animated show Monday, blaming its "growing insensitivity towards personal spiritual beliefs."

Hayes has voiced "Chef" for nine seasons, since the show started in 1997.

"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," Hayes said in a statement.

"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."

The show has poked fun at just about every religion, but an episode in November that joked about scientology may be what irked Hayes, who like Tom Cruise is a scientologist.

Matt Stone, who along with Trey Parker created the show, said that he has no problem releasing Hayes from his contract.

"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. To bring the civil-rights struggle into this is just a non sequitur. Of course we will release Isaac from his contract and we wish him well," Stone said in a statement, according to MTV.