Soul singer Isaac Hayes, the voice of Chef on Comedy Central's South Park, has quit the show that resuscitated his stagnant career almost 10 years ago. Although the cartoon has tackled politically incorrect topics for years, it appears that the most recent slate of shows crossed a line that makes Hayes uncomfortable.

In a statement, Hayes pointed out that he feels that recent South Park episodes have embarked upon what he feels is the "inappropriate ridicule of religious communities." Citing his years as a civil rights activist, Hayes claims that he can no longer be part of a show that disrespects religious beliefs and practices.

Up until now, Hayes has always been a supporter of Trey Parker and Matt Stone's dogma challenging humor. Last season, South Park ruffled Scientologist's feathers with their "Trapped In A Closet" episode, which mocked and ridiculed the religion and Stone believes that Hayes' Scientologist beliefs are the source of his present discomfort with the show's material.

"This is 100 percent having to do with his faith of Scientology," Stone told the Associated Press. "He has no problem and he's cashed plenty of checks with our show making fun of Christians. [W]e 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."