Variety reports that a re-showing of the South Park Scientology episode was mysteriously yanked and replaced by the early episode “Chef’s Chocolate Salty Balls” which featured Isaac Hayes’ character Chef. That’s a noteworthy choice, since Hayes recently quit the show due to their Scientology parody. Forced between tweeking the nose of Scientologists again or kissing up to Hayes, Comedy Central chose Chef.

However, Matt Stone and Trey Parker released this statement:

“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!!!”

The duo signed the statement “Trey Parker and Matt Stone, servants of the dark lord Xenu.”

Season 10 of South Park starts next Wednesday.
PREDICTION: Parker and Stone will not dodge the controversy but will instead make fun of it in the episode, since they can parody things that have happened only a few days earlier. (Remember the Christmas episode that showed Saddam in a spiderhole only four days after his capture?)