Scientologists Target ‘South Park'

An episode of “South Park” from 2005 that parodied the Church of Scientology was so upsetting to leaders of the religious sect that it secretly investigated the show’s creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, according to documents made public yesterday. Private investigators for the church allegedly staked out the “South Park” offices, rifled through Stone’s and Parker’s trash, and even tried to recruit a mole to infiltrate the team, former high-ranking Scientologist Mark Rathburn says. The goal, according to Rathburnn, was to dig up dirt, which the church could use to pressure the show into not poking fun at the church. The Scientology investigators failed to dig up anything juicy enough, so they set their sights on actors John Stamos and Rebecca Romjin – who were friends with Parker and Stone. All of this was the result of a “South Park” episode, “Trapped In A Closet,” depicting Stan Marsh becoming a Scientologist because it was “fun and free.” On the show, he was discovered to be the reincarnation of the church’s founder, L. Ron Hubbard.