While offical reports list a stroke as Isaac Hayes' cause of death, there's a really interesting article implying Scientology may have played a role in his demise. The article explains how Scientologist Isaac Hayes lost the rights to all his songs back in 1977 and really wasn't doing well financially until the late 1990's when he got that gig voicing the character of Chef on South Park. The article also reveals the little known fact that Isaac suffered a debilitating stoke in 2006 that'd left him with significant motor control and speech issues. Anyway, the article goes on to say that after South Park started riding really hard against the Scientology sect, South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker say Isaac came to them in tears saying he was under tremendous pressure from Scientology leaders to quit the show unless South Park quit their campaign against their religion. They refused, forcing Isaac to choose between his job and his beliefs. He choose his faith and quit the show. According to the article, "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 [the reporter] went to see him and reported on it here [in his colum].The show was an 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. But the general consensus was that he needed the money. Without “Chef,” Isaac’s finances were severely curtailed. He had mouths to feed and 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." While the article stops short of saying Scientology pushed Issac into an early grave, it raised a lot of questions about his death. Like 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.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Did Scientology Kill Isaac Hayes?
While offical reports list a stroke as Isaac Hayes' cause of death, there's a really interesting article implying Scientology may have played a role in his demise. The article explains how Scientologist Isaac Hayes lost the rights to all his songs back in 1977 and really wasn't doing well financially until the late 1990's when he got that gig voicing the character of Chef on South Park. The article also reveals the little known fact that Isaac suffered a debilitating stoke in 2006 that'd left him with significant motor control and speech issues. Anyway, the article goes on to say that after South Park started riding really hard against the Scientology sect, South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker say Isaac came to them in tears saying he was under tremendous pressure from Scientology leaders to quit the show unless South Park quit their campaign against their religion. They refused, forcing Isaac to choose between his job and his beliefs. He choose his faith and quit the show. According to the article, "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 [the reporter] went to see him and reported on it here [in his colum].The show was an 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. But the general consensus was that he needed the money. Without “Chef,” Isaac’s finances were severely curtailed. He had mouths to feed and 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." While the article stops short of saying Scientology pushed Issac into an early grave, it raised a lot of questions about his death. Like 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.
