The upcoming CNN documentary "I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not" delves into the contentious departure of actor Chevy Chase from the NBC sitcom "Community." Director Jay Chandrasekhar, known for his association with the Broken Lizard comedy group, recounts being present the night Chase was fired, describing a significant "meltdown" on set. This dramatic event reportedly occurred after an incident involving Chase's use of the N-word on set became public.

Chandrasekhar detailed the alleged incident, which took place during a "blackface" hand puppet bit written for Chase's character, Pierce Hawthorne. The controversy specifically involved co-star Yvette Nicole Brown. According to Chandrasekhar, there was a pre-existing "history between [Chevy and Yvette] around race," leading Brown to storm off set after Chase's controversial remarks. When a producer insisted on Brown's return for the scene, she conditioned it on an apology from Chase. Chandrasekhar recalled Chase eventually returning but claiming he had said nothing to upset Brown. To justify his actions, Chase reportedly invoked a past interaction with Richard Pryor, stating, "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." When Chandrasekhar pressed for an apology, Chase responded, "For what?"

The incident was later reported by The Hollywood Reporter, which indicated Chase was "frustrated" with his character's arc and used the N-word "when questioning the dialogue." The report emphasized that Chase did not direct the racial slur at his Black co-stars, Brown or Donald Glover, though both were reportedly present on set at the time. Chandrasekhar further described the fallout after The Hollywood Reporter's story broke. Upon returning to set, Chase experienced a "full meltdown," storming in and exclaiming, "Who fucked me over? My career is ruined! I'm ruined! Fuck all of you!" According to Chandrasekhar, Chase never returned to the set after this outburst.

The issues extended beyond this singular incident. Donald Glover shared with The New Yorker in 2018 that Chase frequently made racist jokes while filming "Community." Glover recalled Chase "often tried to disrupt" their scenes with "racial cracks between takes," including one instance where Chase remarked, "People think you’re funnier because you’re Black." "Community" creator Dan Harmon confirmed Chase's "immensely gifted" perception of Glover and explained that Chase's jealousy manifested as attempts to "throw Donald off" with "non-P.C. verbiage." Harmon recounted apologizing to Glover after a particularly difficult night, to which Glover responded, "I don’t even worry about it," interpreting Chase's actions as a "true artist" "thrashing in the water" at the end of his "reign."

Ultimately, Chase exited "Community" after Season 4, a decision fueled by the N-word incident and a well-documented public spat with Dan Harmon over creative differences. The tension culminated dramatically at a wrap party where Harmon, after consuming alcohol, rallied the cast and crew to chant "Fuck you, Chevy!" Chase's daughter, Caley, who attended the party with her parents, described the experience as "rough and mean," highlighting the public nature of the animosity.

Marina Zenovich, the director of the documentary "I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not," faced significant challenges in getting "Community" cast and crew members to participate, noting that "every single person said no." She explained that "there are things people don’t want to talk about" and mentioned a declined invitation from Dan Harmon. Zenovich expressed immense gratitude for Jay Chandrasekhar's participation, stating, "If Jay had said no, I would have been screwed."

Chevy Chase himself has consistently dismissed criticisms regarding his on-set behavior and public image. In a 2022 interview with CBS Sunday Morning, he unequivocally stated that he "doesn’t give a crap" about negative headlines or the opinions of former co-stars, declaring, "I am who I am. And I like who I am. I don’t care." The documentary "I'm Chevy Chase, and You're Not" is scheduled to air on January 1 on CNN, promising to offer further context and perspectives on these events.