Subject: Church of Scientology allegedly spied extensively on South Park Creators Wed Oct 26, 2011 4:06 pm
Quote :
For Matt Stone and Trey Parker, nothing is holy or immune to satire. And since the launch of their groundbreaking animated TV series "South Park," they've skewered a multitude of world religions, pointing out hypocrisies, inanities or just playing with ridiculous stereotypes. One of their most famous religious satires, 2005's Scientology-targeting "Trapped In The Closet" episode, allegedly struck such a nerve with the church's leaders that the group responded by targeting Stone, Parker and their friends in a long-term covert investigation.
Marty Rathbun, a former Church of Scientology executive-turned-critic and independent worshipper, revealed to the Village Voice a number of documents that detailed the religious sect's detailed surveillance of the Emmy-winning TV moguls. Through the help of informants, public records and various other means, they searched for "vulnerabilities" in the pair's personal lives, and after exploring their personal and business connections, widened their focus to investigating actors such as John Stamos, as well.
"Phone records. Bank records. Personal letters that expose some kind of vulnerability," Rathbun told the Voice. "They'll read stuff into the kind of alcohol you're drinking and how much. Prescriptions. They'll figure out your diet. They can find out a lot about you through your trash."
Rathbun's personal site leads with a post that includes more information, including this summary: "In ’06 the creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, became targets of Corporate Scientology’s OSA. Operations were run in an attempt to silence Parker and Stone. While Corporate Scientology was ultimately unsuccessful, left behind an instructive data trail during their efforts."
"Trapped in the Closet" featured a storyline that had Stan, one of the four children that make up the show's core, take a "personality test" after being encountered on the street by a group of Scientologists. The vague test reveals that he is miserable, which leads him to agree to pay the church to make him happy again. An "E-meter" reading reveals that he is housing the soul of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, and various Hollywood celebrities who are members of the church flock to his home to help convince him to become their new leader.
One of those celebrities included Tom Cruise, who locks himself in a closet, which was a clear allusion to various rumors about his sexuality. John Travolta, another member of the church, soon joined him in the closet. Stan's friends tell him that the religion is actually a cult, pointing out that Hubbard was a science fiction writer, though he at first refuses to believe it. Eventually, the Scientology elders reveal that the church is a for-profit con, calling their own religion "crap."
Cruise was so incensed by the episode that he allegedly threatened to not participate in promotion for "Mission: Impossible III" junket if a re-run of the episode was aired; Viacom owns both Comedy Central and Paramount, the studio that put out the film. Cruise's reps denied this, though the episode was indeed pulled. Stone and Parker, for their part, put out a satirical statement on the matter:
"So, Scientology, you may have won THIS battle, but the million-year war for earth has just begun! Temporarily anozinizing our episode will NOT stop us from keeping Thetans forever trapped in your pitiful man-bodies. Curses and drat! You have obstructed us for now, but your feeble bid to save humanity will fail! Hail Xenu!!!"
"Trey Parker and Matt Stone, servants of the dark lord Xenu."
Rathbun teased more documents, which reveal major advances in their investigations, would come soon. He was arrested in September, allegedly at the behest of the Church of Scientology, though charges were later dropped; the Voice reported then that the Church of Scientology was harassing him, in part because he practices the faith outside of the official Church.
"South Park" satirizes religion in just about every episode (click here for a slide show of ten of their most memorable). The show has cast Satan as the cowardly lover of Saddam Hussein, while Kyle, another of the four core children, comes from a very stereotypical Jewish family. Parker and Stone also created the Broadway show, "Book of Mormon," which pokes fun at that religion.
Subject: Re: Church of Scientology allegedly spied extensively on South Park Creators Thu Oct 27, 2011 2:30 pm
Nothing can will me to sleep.
Viinasu Epitome of Weirdness
Posts : 664 Points : 102887 Reputation : 30 Join date : 2011-10-15 Age : 33 Location : messing with this new site x.x
Subject: Re: Church of Scientology allegedly spied extensively on South Park Creators Thu Oct 27, 2011 3:18 pm
their freaking out about this proves that they're a cult and they don't want anyone else to know about the crap they do. when south park makes fun of christians, jews, atheists, etc, these people laugh. not scientologists! i've seen tons of videos on youtube about it, they really control every aspect of a lot of their member's lives and you lose all your friends and family if you leave. O_O
Sponsored content
Subject: Re: Church of Scientology allegedly spied extensively on South Park Creators
Church of Scientology allegedly spied extensively on South Park Creators
Hello! to all you on aw.
And especially "hola!" to all those who remember a fragment of me; tonyflow.
im looking forward to be a little active again after all these years, take good care of me!
Hello, all! As you may see, I am new to the new forum, but I was a part of the previous ones. I wasn't very active then, but this time around, I will change that! *insert inspirational baby fist pump picture here*
<.< >.>
You may or may not have heard of me on the other forum, but I am no longer the super unfamous Rejected, but the incredibly noobish RetardLover. The new name fits more of my …
Anyway, my anime preferences are cyberpunk, horror and supernatural based, but i'm also a typical 90's kid who grew up on Akira, Bebop, Ghosts in Shells, Gundam Wing, DBZ and most anime shown on Toonami and Adult Swim. I enjoy a generous amount of anime outside of those years so take me as open minded in terms of anime discussion.
My Name is Kakalicious and its nice to meet you!
Some of you may know be by a different username and thats cool too
but I decided this was a better name for a forum
I don't see many of my old AW friends around so I hope that they show up and I make new friends as well! oh if you have any questions for me please ask I try to be as kind as possible <3
and I can speak a little Japanese …3>
Hi! Iam new! Nice to meet all of you, i havent been on a forum in like 3 years o.o so iam a litle rusty on my....forum skillz kyaaa ahahaha xD *shuts up now* ^-^ Oh and my name is Ana! ~~~~~Thats all you will get outa me mwahahaha!
Nah jk its only me well i was a dummie and forgot my password yadda yadda
been creepin around the internet and i finally ended up here so Hello im Pup if you don't already know me or forgot since ive been gone...
I like rainbows and ponies and the sweet blood of my enemies
well i think i'll go to bed though its like 1am and i have school