Oh no! They killed…Chef?

Isaac Hayes, the voice behind Chef, mentor to Eric, Kyle, Kenny and Stan, has asked to be released from his contract with animated Comedy Central series South Park due to what he feels is the show’s "inappropriate ridicule" of religion, Reuters reports.

In a statement released earlier today, a spokesman for Hayes, a Scientologist, said: "There is a place in this world for satire, but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry toward religious beliefs and others begins."

While Hayes did not attribute his desire to leave the program to any one specific South Park episode, many suspect it was last season’s Scientology spoof that mocked the religion itself as well as notable celebrity follower Tom Cruise. In the episode, Stan scores so highly on an exam administered by Scientologists that they believe he may be the next L. Ron Hubbard. Alas, hilarity ensues shortly thereafter.

South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, while disappointed, have agreed to honor Hayes’ request, but question why after almost ten years, their parodies of religion have become an issue for Hayes. Talk about getting the Shaft.