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Scientologists Declare War on South Park -- Where's George Clooney?
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Added: 03/20/2006
Type: Summary
Viewed: 451 time(s)
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Scientologists Declare War on South Park -- Where's George Clooney?
Best-selling conservative children's author Katharine DeBrecht is pointing to recent reports of a conflict between the creators of the "South Park" cartoon and the Church of Scientology as yet more proof of Hollywood liberal hypocrisy, and she is pointing a finger at Oscar winner George Clooney in the process.
Recent reports in the respected trade magazine Daily Variety suggest that the Church of Scientology used its well known celebrity muscle to pressure Comedy Central into pulling an upcoming episode of "South Park" that satirized the religion. According to the publication, the clash between Scientology and the South Park creators is escalating in the wake of this latest move. The controversy first gained national attention earlier this week when Isaac Hayes, the voice of the popular character “Chef,” quit over an episode mocking Scientology and its most famous adherent, Tom Cruise.
Daily Variety reports a rumor suggesting that Cruise stepped in at the request of the Church of Scientology, by saying he would refuse to help promote his upcoming movie "Mission: Impossible 3" unless the episode was pulled. Comedy Central is owned by Viacom, the media conglomerate that also owns Paramount, the studio behind the "Mission: Impossible" franchise.
"These reports, if true, smack of exactly the kind of strategy Muslims have been using in terms of the Mohammed cartoons -- stifling free speech because it sometimes offends religious beliefs,” says best-selling children's author Katharine DeBrecht, whose new book "Help! Mom! Hollywood's in My Hamper!" (Kids Ahead; hardcover: $15.95; ISBN 0976726912) also satirizes Scientology and Cruise, as well as a number of other Hollywood personalities. "While I am not a fan of 'South Park' -- and I certainly don't think it's an appropriate program for kids -- it’s a show that has consistently skewered many religions, including Christianity and Judaism. What makes Scientology different? We must all defend the show’s right to parody this religion and Tom Cruise, its most outspoken advocate.
"I also satirize Scientology and other trendy Hollywood religions in my new book as something called 'Toenailology,'" adds DeBrecht. "Does this mean the Church of Scientology will come after me next?" DeBrecht adds that Scientology -- which has many Hollywood stars and power brokers in its ranks, including John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, Beck, Jenna Elfman, and Lisa Marie Presley -- teaches that humans can reach a godlike state, something she believes is opposed to traditional values.
"Where are George Clooney and his brave Hollywood friends?" notes DeBecht, chiding the outspoken liberal who made a particular point during the Oscars of patting himself on the back for having the courage to call Joseph McCarthy a bad guy -- 50 years and countless books and documentaries after the fact. "Here’s censorship happening right under Hollywood's nose, but instead of confronting an actual free speech issue, all these brave liberals souls don’t want to take on a clear violation of free speech when it involves a big-name actor who might be able to give them a job somewhere down the road."
About Kids Ahead:
Kids Ahead is an imprint of Los Angeles-based World Ahead Publishing, the West Coast's leading publisher of conservative books. |
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