Isaac Hayes died last week. He was an R&B singer/composer, the famous voice of “Chef” on South Park, an actor – and a Scientologist.

According to his friend Roger Friedman (Fox News), his passing leaves many unanswered questions.

Hayes’s apparent downward spiral began in November 2005 when South Park aired an episode spoofing Tom Cruise and Scientology. Matt Stone, the show’s creator, apparently came to Friedman and said that Scientology leaders had pressured Hayes after the episode aired. He told Stone that they would have to stop making fun of Scientology – or Hayes would have to quit.

Months later in January 2006, Hayes had a severe stroke. Scientology monitors “portrayed it as a minor health issue,” said Friedman, and played it off as a simple case of exhaustion. But Hayes could no longer control his speech or motor skills. He resigned from South Park in March 2006.

To maintain his household income and pay required fees to the Church of Scientology, Hayes toured and performed, speech impairment and all.

Then last week, he was found dead by his treadmill. Friedman asked these questions in his article:

Why, for example, was a stroke survivor on a treadmill by himself? What was his condition? What kind of treatment had he had since the stroke? Members of Scientology are required to sign a form promising they will never seek psychiatric or mental assistance. But stroke rehabilitation involves the help of neurologists and often psychiatrists, not to mention psychotropic drugs — exactly the kind Scientology proselytizes against.

Please do consider the source (no offense, Fox News). What do you think? Could Hayes’s involvement with Scientology have affected his health or the way he behaved and was cared for following the 2006 stroke?

Find another article about Scientology on Religion Transcends here.

Filed under: Sects