Chevy Chase’s stormy time on Community is back in the spotlight — and this time, the story comes straight from someone who was there when it all went down.
Director Jay Chandrasekhar, who was behind the camera during the infamous 2012 blow-up that led to Chevy’s exit, is spilling everything in CNN’s new documentary I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not, premiering January 1.
According to Chandrasekhar, the chaos started over a controversial “blackface puppet” bit written for Chevy’s character, Pierce Hawthorne. Things reportedly escalated when Chevy said the N-word during a heated moment on set.
The director says co-star Yvette Nicole Brown stormed off after the exchange — and Chevy followed suit. Producers pushed for an apology to get the scene done, but Chevy allegedly brushed it off, saying, “Me and Richard Pryor used to call each other those names — and we loved each other.”
When Chandrasekhar asked for an apology, Chevy shot back, “For what?”
Not long after, word of the “racial incident” leaked — and that’s when the meltdown hit full throttle.
“He comes storming onto the set, yelling, ‘Who f—– me over? My career is ruined!’” Chandrasekhar recalls. “He was furious. It was a full meltdown. Then he just left — and never came back.”
Production was briefly shut down after the blow-up, and Chevy eventually issued an apology. He officially left Community after season 4, though he returned for a single episode in 2014.
The incident added fuel to an already fiery feud between Chevy and show creator Dan Harmon, whose drunken “F— you, Chevy!” chant at the wrap party became its own viral controversy — one that Chevy’s daughter Caley still remembers as “rough” and “mean.”
“I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not” premieres January 1 at 8 p.m. EST on CNN.
Source: CNN / PEOPLE
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