I think we all knew this was coming: Singer Isaac Hayes, the voice of Chef on "South Park," announced yesterday that he is leaving the animated series. Hayes, a Scientologist, cited the Comedy Central show's recent Scientology-centered episode as the motivation for his deaprture:

"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," the 63-year-old soul singer and outspoken Scientologist said. "Religious beliefs are sacred to people, and at all times should be respected and honored," he continued. "As a civil rights activist of the past 40 years, I cannot support a show that disrespects those beliefs and practices."

"South Park" creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, hardly ones to shy away from a controversy, fired back at Hayes immediately. Said Stone:

This is 100 percent having to do with his faith of Scientology... He has no problem -- and he's cashed plenty of checks -- with our show making fun of Christians.

And Parker:

[We] 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.

[Yahoo! News] Isaac Hayes Quits 'South Park'