OH, MY GOD! THEY'VE KILLED CHEF!!!

CNN reports this morning that after ten years and 150-plus episodes, soul singer Isaac Hayes has quit the hit cartoon show "South Park", on which he voiced the character "Chef".

Hayes cited the show's parody of religion, one of it's mainstays since it debuted on Comedy Central in 1997, as the reason for his decision. However, co-creator Matt Stone said the recording artist was upset when the show made fun of the Clearwater-based Church of Scientology, of which he is an adherent.

According to a statement issued by Stone by the cable network:

"In ten years and over 150 episodes of 'South Park,' Isaac never had a problem with the show making fun of Christians, Muslim, Mormons or Jews...He got a sudden case of religious sensitivity when it was his religion featured on the show."

Hayes did not participate in an episode of "South Park" last season in which the character Stan scores so high on a Scientology test that church followers believed he was the next L. Ron Hubbard (who founded the religion).

Comedy Central has not decided if the character Chef would be dropped or continued using another actor's voice.