Comedian Chevy Chase, famous for his work on Saturday Night Live and the Vacation movies, is addressing claims that he is racist. He recently discussed the controversy surrounding his behavior on the set of Community, which led to his departure from the show during its fourth season. While some believed he left due to using a racial slur, Chase maintains he left because of disagreements about his character’s storyline.
Comedy icon Chevy Chase recently spoke with The New York Times about his new documentary, I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not. The film explores his often turbulent career, featuring reflections from those who have worked with him. Directed by Marina Zenovich, the documentary presents a remarkably candid look at Chase, known for his outspoken and sometimes controversial views.
Chase admits the show wasn’t terrible, but he didn’t love it. He jokingly says his daughter, who appears in the documentary, is mistaken if she thinks he enjoyed the writing. He feels his time on the show had a satisfying conclusion and considers the controversy surrounding a racial slur to be a simple misunderstanding.
There was a serious miscommunication, and I felt like at least two people completely misunderstood me. They didn’t seem to know my work or understand my character, and wrongly assumed I held racist views. It felt like a gut reaction, perhaps because they weren’t familiar with my background.
What Happened to Chevy Chase’s Career?
Warner Bros.
After playing a significant part in the first season of Saturday Night Live, Chase left the show to focus on a film career. He became a prominent comedy actor in the early 1980s with hits like Caddyshack, National Lampoon’s Vacation, and Fletch. Despite some box office failures, such as Nothing But Trouble and Memoirs of an Invisible Man, Chase remained a well-regarded Hollywood star throughout the 1980s and early 1990s.
Chevy Chase had a history of difficult behavior on film sets, which likely hurt his career. By the late 1990s, he stopped getting roles in big, popular comedies and mostly appeared in smaller, independent films. He later played Pierce Hawthorne on the show Community starting in 2009, but that ultimately ended badly.
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Chase faced health challenges recently, but his difficult behavior ultimately did more to harm his career than anything else. His career declined, and most people in the entertainment industry are likely unwilling to collaborate with him. Though a recent documentary showed a more vulnerable side, it’s clear that Chevy Chase remains true to his established personality, and that likely won’t change.
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2026-01-06 00:32