Isaac Hayes' Son Says Scientology Forced Father's South Park Exit

Isaac Hayes III, son of the late singer and South Park voice actor Isaac Hayes, has clarified that his father did not voluntarily quit the show following the 2005 episode "Trapped in the Closet," which satirized Scientology. Hayes III explains that his father suffered a stroke shortly after the episode aired, leaving him unable to make decisions or speak, and that Scientology leaders and his management made the choice to remove him from the show without his consent. Contrary to the original public statement attributed to Isaac Hayes criticizing the episode for intolerance, his son insists this was a cover story created by others within the Scientology circle. Isaac Hayes Sr. loved voicing Chef and engaging with fans, and would have continued if not forced out due to illness and external influence. Hayes III also noted that the forced departure negatively impacted his father's health and career, requiring him to tour before he was ready. This perspective has been shared across multiple interviews and social media posts, emphasizing that Hayes' exit was not of his own volition but orchestrated by those around him linked to Scientology.