A new documentary is offering more insight into the explosive on-set episode that eventually led to Chevy Chase’s exit from Community, with a director describing the moment as a “full meltdown” tied to the now well-known N-word controversy.
In I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not, an authorized documentary set to premiere January 1 on CNN, director Jay Chandrasekhar says he personally witnessed the 2012 incident that effectively ended Chase’s time on the NBC sitcom.
Chandrasekhar, who directed several episodes of Community, explains that tensions had been building over Chase’s dissatisfaction with his character, Pierce Hawthorne, culminating in a racially charged moment during rehearsals, according to People.
He says the situation escalated while filming a scene that included a controversial joke written for Pierce. Although Chandrasekhar notes he didn’t hear Chase’s exact words, the comment reportedly deeply upset co-star Yvette Nicole Brown, who allegedly walked off set in protest. Production was paused as producers attempted to manage the fallout, with Brown refusing to continue unless Chase apologized.
When Chase returned, Chandrasekhar recalls the actor defending himself by citing his past relationship with the late Richard Pryor.
“He goes, ‘You know, me and Richard 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 said.
Things reportedly worsened after news of a “racial incident” leaked to the media. Chandrasekhar says that when the cast regrouped, Chase arrived visibly angry and emotionally spiraling.
“He came storming onto the set,” Chandrasekhar recounts in the documentary. “And he goes, ‘Who fucked me over?’… ‘My career is ruined! I’m ruined!’ Like, it’s a full meltdown. ‘Fuck all of you!’”
While filming briefly continued that day, Chase never returned to the series afterward.
Production was ultimately halted, and Chase later released a public apology. He officially exited Community after its fourth season in 2013, making only a short cameo the following year.
The documentary also revisits Chase’s ongoing feud with series creator Dan Harmon, including a notorious wrap-party incident where Harmon encouraged cast and crew members to chant insults at Chase—an episode Chase’s daughter later described as humiliating and deeply painful.
