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NEED TO KNOW
Director Jay Chandrasekhar recalled the incident that led to Chevy Chase's exit from Community in CNN's new documentary, I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not
The filmmaker, who was present for the 2012 situation, said Chase had a "meltdown" after it was leaked that he said the N-word on the show's set
I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not premieres Jan. 1 at 8 p.m. EST / 5 p.m. PST on CNN
More details about the incident that led toChevy Chase's exit fromCommunityare coming to light.
InI'm Chevy Chase and You're Not —a new, authorized documentary about the 82-year-old actor and comedian — director Jay Chandrasekhar recalls witnessing the 2012 incident, in which Chevy used the N-word, and what went down in detail, including the on-set "meltdown" that it inspired.
Chandrasekhar, 57, who directed several episodes of the comedy series, said in the CNN documentary, out Jan. 1, that he "was there, directing, the night that Chevy Chase got fired fromCommunity." The events can be traced back to a "blackface" hand puppet bit written for Chevy's character, Pierce Hawthorne, Chandrasekhar said.
While working, Chevy "said something" to costarYvette Nicole Brown, Chandrasekhar recalled, though the director claimed he did not hear what exactly was uttered.
At the time,The Hollywood Reporterreported that Chevy was "frustrated" with the direction Pierce was going as a character and used the N-word "when questioning the dialogue."THRalso clarified that while starsDonald Gloverand Brown, 54, who are both Black, were present for the scene and incident, "The slur was not directed at them."
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Recalling his side of what happened inI'm Chevy Chase, Chandrasekhar said, "I know that there was a history between [Chevy and Yvette] around race, and she got up and stormed out of there. Chevy storms off, so the producer is like, 'We need Yvette in the scene, right?' I'm like, 'Yeah, she's in the next scene.' And he goes, 'Well, she won't come out unless Chevy apologizes to her.' "
Chandrasekhar said Chevy then returned to the set but claimed he "didn't say anything."
"He goes, 'You know, me andRichard Pryor, I used to call Richard Pryor the N-word, and he used to call me The Honky, and we loved each other.' And I'm like, 'I know, man, I love that bit.' I said, 'You know, can we just have a little apology?' He goes, 'For what?' " Chandrasekhar recounted of Chevy's words and reference to the late stand-up comedian and actor, who died in 2005.
After filming that day, Chandrasekhar recalled someone leaking that there was a "racial incident" on set toTHR.And when the cast returned to set after the leak, the director said Chevy had a "full meltdown."
Chandrasekhar said Chevy came "storming onto the set, and he goes, 'Who f----- me over?' … 'My career is ruined! I'm ruined!' Like, it's a full meltdown. 'F--- all of you!' "
"And I'm like, 'Alright, let's shoot the scene.' He never ended up coming back after that," added the director.
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Following the 2012 incident, production was consequently halted, and Chevy was later reportedly forced to issue an apology. The actor leftCommunityafter season 4, which aired in 2013, though he returned briefly for one episode in 2014.
Chevy's exit came after the headline-making incident, as well as a very public feud with creator Dan Harmon over creative and on-set disagreements, which are also discussed inI'm Chevy Chase.
"It was out in the open that Chevy Chase was a little difficult onCommunity, and I'm being nice. People were talking about it, enough that Dan did that thing at the wrap party," Chandrasekhar said in the documentary, referring to when Harmon, 52, got party guests to say, "F---- you, Chevy!" — which led to the infamous and profanity-laden leaked voicemail the comedian left for the show creator.
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One of Chevy's daughters, Caley Chase, recalled the contentious moment — for which she and her mom,Jayni Chase, were both present — in the forthcoming documentary.
"My dad was super excited to bring me and my mom to the wrap party," Caley, 40, says. "We walk in, Dan, he had had some drinks. He had gotten the whole cast and crew to yell, 'F---- you, Chevy!' 'F---- you, Chevy!' "
"I'm there, he's showing his daughter, like, 'This is the show I did,' and we walk in to 'F---- you, Chevy!' That's rough," she adds. "And mean."
I'm Chevy Chase and You're Notpremieres Jan. 1 at 8 p.m. EST / 5 p.m. PST on CNN.
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