On March 13, 2006, Isaac 'Chef' Hayes officially resigned from the show, citing an increasing dissatisfaction with the show's treatment of religious faiths, most notably his own,
Scientology, which was lampooned in the episode
Trapped in the Closet (Season 9). Despite his official press release, however, there remains considerable speculation about the events motivating his departure. As recently as January 4, 2006, Hayes defended South Park's style of humor to the Onion's AV Club, noting that, although he was not pleased with how the show represented Scientology, he "understands what [Matt and Trey] are doing." Shortly after this statement, Hayes suffered a stroke, and some speculate that he may no longer be in a position to make major decisions for himself. In the first episode of Season 10 (March 22, 2006), Chef was officially killed off. Although Hayes's voice is heard throughout the episode, his lines were stitched together by sampling his voice from previous episodes. While this sample editing enabled the show to contend with Hayes's departure, it was also exaggerated to maximize its comic effect. In the episode, Chef is brainwashed by The Super Adventure Club, whose mission is to molest children all over the world. This "club" is clearly another satire of the Church of Scientology. Apparently, the club brainwashed Chef to believe that molesting children could make you immortal, which the club explains in terms similar to those which describe the origins of Scientology in the episode
Trapped in the Closet. Despite a rescue attempt by the four boys, Chef succumbs to the brainwashing and returns to the club. He is then killed in a grisly accident. Gathered for his funeral, the citizens of South Park all agree that they will remember Chef as the loving, upstanding role model, and instead blame "that fruity club" for brainwashing him. In the last scene of the episode, the club resurrects Chef vis-a-vis Darth Vader, however, there's no indication yet if "Darth Chef" will become a reoccuring character.
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