If you thought that free speech was alive and well in America, think again. It’s not just the FCC that’s trying to have its unelected five-person committee decide for 295 million Americans what constitutes good taste.

Now comes word that Tom Cruise and his ever-present legal team have apparently managed to pressure Comedy Central into dropping the infamous South Park episode Trapped in the Closet from its programming. In case you’re not a fan, the South Park episode last fall, excoriated the Church of Scientology and its celebrity followers, including actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta. In the episode, Stan, one of the show’s mischievous fourth-graders, is hailed as a savior by Scientology leaders. While that is happening, the cartoon Cruise locks himself in a closet and won’t come out.

In response, Trey Parker and Matt Stone released the following statement to defamer.com: ‘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!!!

‘Trey Parker and Matt Stone, servants of the dark lord Xenu’

Comedy Central responded by issuing this statement: ‘In light of the events of earlier this week, we wanted to give Chef an appropriate tribute by airing two episodes he is most known for.’ The events they were referring to was the departure of Chef (Isaac Hayes) quitting the show because he was also unhappy about the Scientology digs.