Topic: Religion and Government
Did Scientology Kill Isaac Hayes? South Park star, Oscar winner pushed into untenable situation by that wacky cult.by RS Davis
(libertarian)
Monday, August 11, 2008
So, I guess you heard already that Isaac Hayes died. But have you heard that Scientology may have killed him? It all goes back to a South Park episode called Trapped in a Closet, where those geniuses Matt Stone and Trey Parker sent up Tom Cruise, John Travolta, and Scientology in general:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrTrzsIxcXs
The reports at the time were that Isaac Hayes was really upset by that portrayal, and subsequently left the show. As Stone explained, "He said he was under great pressure from Scientology, and if we didn't stop poking at them, he'd have to leave." He ended up leaving the show, and the creators killed off the character of chef, with a backhanded eulogy:
We're all here today because Chef has been such an important part of our lives. A lot of us don't agree with the choices Chef has made in the past few days. Some of us feel hurt and confused that he seemed to turn his back on us. But we can't let the events of the last week take away the memories of how much Chef made us smile. I'm gonna remember Chef as the jolly old guy who broke into song. I'm gonna remember chef as the guy who gave us advice to live by. So you see, we shouldn't be mad at Chef for leaving us. We should be mad at that fruity little club for scrambling his brains.
And that appeared to be the end of it. Another humorless overreaction by Scientology.
But is that really it? Isaac Hayes friend, Roger Friedman, writes today on Fox News another side of the story:
In March 2006, news came that Hayes was resigning from "South Park." On March 20, 2006, I wrote a column called "Chef's Quitting Controversy," explaining that Hayes was in no position to have quit anything due to his stroke. But Scientology issued the statement to the press saying Hayes had resigned, and the press just ate it up. No one spoke to Isaac directly, because he couldn't literally speak. "Chef" was written out of the show.
Isaac's income stream was severely impaired as a result. Suddenly there were announcements of his touring, and performing. It didn't seem possible, but word went out that he'd be at BB King's in New York in January 2007. I went to see him and reported on it here.
The show was abomination. Isaac was plunked down at a keyboard, where he pretended to front his band. He spoke-sang, and his words were halting. He was not the Isaac Hayes of the past.
What was worse was that he barely knew me. He had appeared in my documentary, "Only the Strong Survive," released in 2003. We knew each other very well. I was actually surprised that his Scientology minder, Christina Kumi Kimball, with whom I had difficult encounters in the past, let me see him backstage at BB King's. Our meeting was brief, and Isaac said quietly that he did know me. But the light was out in his eyes, and the situation was worrisome.
But the general consensus was that he needed the money. Without "Chef," Isaac's finances were severely curtailed. He had mouths to feed to home. Plus, Scientology requires huge amounts of money, as former member, actor Jason Beghe, has explained in this space. For Isaac to continue in the sect, he had to come up with funds. Performing was the only way...
...But there are a lot of questions still to be raised about Isaac Hayes' death. Why, for example, was a stroke survivor on a treadmill by himself? What was his condition? What kind of treatment had he had since the stroke? Members of Scientology are required to sign a form promising they will never seek psychiatric or mental assistance. But stroke rehabilitation involves the help of neurologists and often psychiatrists, not to mention psychotropic drugs exactly the kind Scientology proselytizes against.
What was that about a cult?
Thanks to TheOtherGeorgeW for the tip.
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The views expressed in this
article are those of RS Davis only and do not represent
the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates. RS Davis is
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employee or otherwise affiliated with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
Isaac Hayes made his own decision and therefore it is his responsibility and not that of the cult of scientology. Individuals are responsible to be mature enough to not fall into a cult or face the consequences.
^so it's okay for scam artists to prey on emotionally needy and confused people because people should know better?
you good with ponzi schemes, then? tea leaf readers? fake cancer cures, because people are "responsible to be mature enough" to research the science themselves when they are desperate?
with great power comes great responsibility, and if you have the mental acuity to recognize a scam you have a moral duty to present the evidence of it and help your fellow man avoid the consequences.
Posted By: Markus Andras
Date: 2008-09-11 06:38:31
FACT: Scientology Killed Isaac Hayes.
The FDA has ruled that Scientology "Tech" does nothing to help someone in need of real medical attention. Instead of receiving proper medical attention after his stroke Isaac Hayes was given the typical scientology "medicine" (Basic Vitamins and made to exercise). Isaac Hayes died while Running on a treadmill for hours trying to "Clear" his Thetans - something you wouldn't normally make a stroke victim do.
The negligent and fraudulent "medical" practices of the Cult of Scientology are the reason one of the greatest performers of our time is in an early grave.
It saddens me that Mr. Hayes, who lived life more fully than many of us do, who has been recognized by many people from many walks of life as a stellar example, is spoken of so cheaply, here.
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