After R&B legend Issac Hayes' untimely death back in 2008, rumors began to swirl that Scientology leaders had pressured Hayes into quitting his popular voice-over role on the animated series 'South Park,' forcing the ailing performer back into a grueling touring schedule in order to support his family [click here and here if you missed that].
Issac Hayes' son, Issac Hayes III, is now confirming the rumors were true...
Issac III tells The Hollywood Reporter,
“What happened was that in January 2006 my dad had a stroke and lost the ability to speak. He really didn’t have that much comprehension, and he had to relearn to play the piano and a lot of different things. He was in no position to resign under his own knowledge. At the time, everybody around my father was involved in Scientology—his assistants, the core group of people. So someone quit South Park on Isaac Hayes’ behalf. We don’t know who.”
“My father was not that big of a hypocrite to be part of a show that would constantly poke fun at African-American people, Jewish people, gay people—and only quit when it comes to Scientology.”
At the time South Park had been mercilessly skewering Scientology and their most famous recruits Tom Cruise and John Travolta.
