It has been exposed that South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker had been once targeted by the Church of Scientology's crew of investigators. The targeting followed South Park's Emmy-nominated episode "Trapped In The Closet", which first aired in 2005.
Related Post: Matt Stone Net Worth
While I'm positive most of you have seen the notorious South Park episode, let me give a snappy run-down of "Trapped In The Closet". The story revolves around Stan taking the Scientology "personality test" which convinces him to sign up for the Church of Scientology. Stan then will get "audited" by Scientologists who find his "Thetan levels" appear as high because the past due founding father of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard. The Scientolgists then imagine Stan is the reincarnation of Hubbard. After this revelation, John Travolta and a group of Scientologists start gathering outdoor Stan's house to greet him. Stan then finds Tom Cruise (Travolta and Cruise being famous Scientologists) in his closet looking ahead to him which results in a chain of jokes making fun of Scientology and Tom Cruise being homosexual. Stan then exposes that Scientology is a money-making rip-off, which causes Tom Cruise to sue him.
The Office of Special Affairs are observing you, Matt Stone and Trey Parker! / Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Hulu
In actual existence, this episode caused as a lot controversy as it did within the episode. It caused Isaac Hayes, who played Chef on South Park, to hand over the show as a result of he's a member of the Church of Scientology. A conspiracy started when this episode was once scheduled to be broadcast for the second one time, but was once pulled and an previous rerun was once played as an alternative. Rumors then started that Tom Cruise was in the back of it. Tom Cruise was once staring in Mission: Impossible III for Paramount Pictures that summer time. And Paramount had just lately develop into the landlord's of Comedy Central, and just signed South Park for another three-year contract. Fox News reported that Cruise threatened Paramount Pictures he would not promote Mission: Impossible III if the episode re-aired. This caused an uproar with South Park lovers and loose speech critics the episode was ultimately re-broadcast. Tom Cruise's representatives deny his involvement on this factor. The episode then went on to be nominated for an Emmy.
This led to Scientology's Office of Special Affairs (OSA) to focus on Matt Stone and Trey Parker. The OSA operates an an private investigators that look into somebody crucial of Scientology to find any information to discredit or use towards them. The OSA will look into any public records or personal ones they can to find, such as telephone data, financial institution information, letters, emails and even a target's trash (known as "Special Collections by the OSA). They look into what and how much alcohol you drink and how much. The same goes for any prescription or illegal drugs and even what the target eats. They will also look into your tax records, criminal record or relationship problems for ways to expose the them. They investigate friends, family and other contacts to get info to help discredit their target.
Related Post: Trey Parker Net Worth
This was exposed by Marty Rathbun, a former Scientologist who left the church in 2004. Scientology's Office of Special Affairs was ultimately unsuccessful in digging up any dirt on Stone and Parker. Rathbun says their investigations always leave a paper trail themselves that can be found, as with the South Park creators or other high profile critics of the Church of Scientology.
What's you opinion on South Park's commentary and right to free speech? And how about Scientology's use of a CIA-like team to investigate and dig up dirt on critics of their church?
Related Post: The Richest Scientologists
The South Park creators for a interview with Rolling Stone over the arguable episode / Michael Buckner/Getty Images
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pLHLnpmroaSuu6bA1qipraBemLyue8Crq6KbnJrAcLHNrZyrrJGeu66xza1kmqqknrCtsdJoqqitpJ16sa3RpKpmpZGpwW6%2F06ilnmWkp7K6ec%2BaqaSdomK2r8LErKuin5GpsqV50pygnqakpLmws8isq6xn