Top Scientologist reveals memo the church sent after 'South Park' made fun of Tom Cruise

Much of Rinder's report is about the internal outrage over this South Park The issues sparked within Scientology revolve around journalist Mark Ebner, whom Parker and Stone consulted when writing “Trapped in the Closet” and who wrote an exposé for “Trapped in the Closet” in 1996 spy Magazine about the initiation process after “joining” the church and learning its secrets. The article, entitled “Would you like to buy a bridge?”, was notorious among the upper echelons of Scientologists and their plan to suppress South Park and “Trapped in the Closet” began to discredit Ebner.

“We learned that Mark Ebner served as a consultant for the program. (He is also listed as a contributing author at radarand has previously demonetized the church and published entheta posts ((Church Speaks for Anti-Scientology)) in which Isaac Hayes calls Isaac a 'House (N-word)' and 'Uncle Tom' for selling out to Scientology ),“ Rinder's memo supposedly.

As for Hayes' part in the response, Rinder confirmed Parker and Stone's claims that they intentionally kept Chef in the dark about the Scientology episode to avoid additional controversy. “Isaac was informed of the show when he arrived in LA at lunchtime,” the memo said. “He was very angry and said that explained why he hadn't been able to reach the show's creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, in the last few days.” Then the bombshell: “He said he'd had enough of it Show and will stop. This will not be done today in order not to cause a media incident.”

“Isaac called Doug Herzog, the president of Comedy Central, to stop them from re-airing the show. He left a message for Herzog, who was on a plane heading back to LA. He'll tell him how pissed he is that they consulted with a racist, bigoted Ebner but not with him, and if they had, he would have told them they know who Ebner is and what they're about to get into Rinder further wrote in the memo. “Then he talked to Matt Stone and Trey Parker. He informed them about Ebner and they both claimed that they didn't like Ebner either and that he was working with one of their producers to distance himself from the show.”

Ebner, who spoke to The Daily Beast about the Church of Scientology's memo and response to “Trapped in the Closet,” denied ever using a racial slur to describe Hayes, and laughed at the church's official account of the behind-the-scenes politics of South Park. “If (Parker and Stone) didn't like me, I would ask everyone to explain why I was constantly invited to all their Christmas parties for years afterward,” Ebner posited.

The plan, as Rinder wrote, had three parts: Hayes would get involved with Comedy Central, Parker and Stone, and eventually leave the show after some time had passed while referring to Ebner as a “third party,” a Scientologist term every conflict between two entities is attributed to a third party. The church itself would also blame Ebner, both to Viacom executives in its sphere of influence and to the public, portraying him as a racist agitator with an ax to grind. Then the church would investigate Ebner and try to uncover his “crimes.”

In conversation with The Daily BeastRinder doesn't remember Scientology ever investigating Ebner or his “crimes,” but he's sure someone must have looked deeper into Ebner's actions. “Given the magnitude of this flap, I would be pretty sure that was the case. I can’t remember whether anything was uncovered or not.”

While Rinder's official, internal report on the saga claims Hayes wasn't just ready to quit South Park Rinder, who is not involved in “Trapped in the Closet” but is actively involved in the church's response, admits that Hayes' son's version of events may be closer to the truth than what he said in the memo claimed. Rinder cited Isaac Hayes III's claim that his father was forced to resign South Park a “fair view,” although he suggested that Hayes' deeper connection to the church than outsiders claim was “also a fair view.”

Whatever role Hayes played in Scientology's response to “Trapped in the Closet” appears to be more complicated than either side of the controversy would like to admit, but the result is the same: Hayes is gone South Park“Trapped in the Closet” was viewed millions of times thanks to the controversy, and the Church of Scientology failed to destroy Ebner’s entire life and career. As Ebner noted The Daily Beasthis contribution to South Park Canon is still one of the highest rated episodes in the series' history.

Tom Cruise couldn't be reached for comment – but we didn't check at the caramel factory to see if he was on shift.