Hollywood veteran Chevy Chase has forcefully rejected accusations of racism, reigniting the controversy surrounding his dramatic exit from the cult sitcom Community in 2012. The debate has been stoked by the imminent release of a new CNN documentary, I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not, which features fresh testimony about the incident that led to his dismissal.
The On-Set Incident That Sparked a Firestorm
In 2012, during the production of Community's fourth season, Chase was reported to have used a racial slur during an outburst on set. The incident involved his co-star Yvette Nicole Brown, who is Black. According to director Jay Chandrasekhar, who recounts the event in the documentary, Brown left the set after Chase "said something" to her.
Chandrasekhar, 57, was directing that night and described the immediate fallout. "She got up and stormed out of there," he said. Producers then informed Chase that Brown would not return unless he apologised. The comedian's refusal was rooted in a controversial defence. He claimed that he used to call his Saturday Night Live co-star Richard Pryor the N-word, and Pryor would call him 'The Honky,' and they 'loved each other.'
When pressed for an apology, Chase reportedly responded, "For what?" The details of the confrontation were subsequently leaked to The Hollywood Reporter, which stated that while the slur was not directed at Brown or fellow Black co-star Donald Glover, Chase had apologised immediately to the cast.
Chase's Defence and Documentary Revelations
In a recent interview with The New York Times to promote the documentary, the 82-year-old comedian attempted to set the record straight. He insisted the situation was a "too great a misunderstanding" and expressed frustration that some younger cast members did not know his history or work.
"I thought that there was at least one person – and another who, for some ungodly reason, didn’t get me, didn’t know who I was, or didn’t realise for one second I’m not racist," Chase stated. His comments were at odds with his daughter Caley's positive remarks about the show's writing in the film, to which he bluntly replied, "My daughter can go to hell."
The documentary also sheds light on Chase's reaction to the press leak. Chandrasekhar described a "full meltdown" on set, where Chase stormed in shouting, "My career is ruined! I’m ruined!" and "F**k all of you!" He never returned to film for the show after that, with his character Pierce Hawthorne being written out as having died off-screen before season five.
A Legacy of Feuds and Lasting Fallout
Chase's departure was also marred by a very public feud with the show's creator, Dan Harmon. Chandrasekhar recalls that at the season's wrap party, Harmon encouraged guests to chant "F**k you, Chevy!" This prompted Chase to leave an expletive-laden voicemail for Harmon, which was later leaked and made headlines in 2012.
Despite the controversy, Chase maintains a defiant stance. He told The New York Times that he didn't think the show was "that good" and, when reminded of past positive comments, told the reporter, "Oh, shut up." Nevertheless, he concluded that his time on Community "ended great."
The new documentary promises to offer the comedian's authorised perspective on a career-defining scandal, but the fresh accounts from those on set ensure the debate over what truly happened remains as heated as ever.
