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As we continue to mourn the graphic, bowel-evacuated passing of beloved South Park character Chef on last night's premiere, and, by extension, blow a goodbye kiss to the last vestiges of Isaac Hayes' free will in the process, troubling clues continue to trickle in suggesting something about the delayed reaction of the star's departure just doesn't smell right. FoxNews.com quoted an Onion A.V. Club interview in which Hayes said he wasn't warned about the episode beforehand, but he laughs it off, saying, "[I] understand what they're doing. I told them to take a couple of Scientology courses, and understand what we do." Now, a much talked about exchange between a caller and Hayes on the Opie and Anthony XM satellite radio show last December has been made available by FoundryMusic.com. A transcript:

Caller: Hey, my question's for Isaac Hayes.

Hayes: Yeah.

Caller: Hey, what did you think—You're a Scientologist, right?

Hayes: Yeah.

Caller: OK what did you think about when Matt and Trey did that one episode on Scientology? With Cruise in the closet?

Hayes: Well, one thing about Matt and Trey, they lampoon everybody, and if you take that shit serious, then I'll sell you the Brooklyn Bridge for two dollars. That's what they do.

That's a far cry from the robotic words of his official departing statement ("...religious beliefs are sacred to people, and at all times should be respected and honored..."), which, we were surprised to discover, spells "pls hlp me im scred rm one oh nine clbrity centr" if you read only every third letter.