Chevy Chase Addresses Claims He Acted Like a ‘Jerk’ on ‘Community’
Emmy-winning actor and comedian Chevy Chase is standing his ground when it comes to accusations that he acted like a jerk on the set of former NBC comedy Community.
In an interview with CBS Sunday Morning this weekend, Chase was asked about his time working on the Dan Harmon sitcom. The Saturday Night Live alum played the abrasive and rude Pierce Hawthorne in the cult-favorite comedy. However, he would ultimately exit the series after four seasons due to frequent conflicts with Harmon over the direction of his character.
“I guess you’d have to ask them. I don’t give a crap!” Chase laughed when asked about his time on Community and his co-workers’ negative experiences with him. “I am who I am. And I like where — who I am. I don’t care. And it’s part of me that I don’t care. And I’ve thought about that a lot. And I don’t know what to tell you, man. I just don’t care.”
In 2012, it was reported by Deadline that Chase had an outburst on set, during which he was said to have used the N-word, though it was not directed at his Black cast members, Donald Glover or Yvette Nicole Brown. Instead, Chase was frustrated with the bigoted direction Pierce was heading, suggesting he “may next be asked to call Troy (Glover) or Shirley (Brown) the N-word.”
The controversial outburst upset the cast, and Chase later apologized. But it was another example of the comedian’s long-running feud with Harmon and the show’s writers. At the time, it had been reported that Chase had stormed off the set in the middle of filming several times and had also gotten into arguments with Community executive producers-directors Anthony and Joe Russo.
“It was a big mistake!” Chase told The Huffington Post UK in 2012 when asked about signing on to Community. “I just sort of hung around because I have three daughters and a wife, and I figured out I might as well make some bread, every week, so I can take care of them in the way they want.”
“The hours are hideous, and it’s still a sitcom on television, which is probably the lowest form of television,” he added before praising his fellow cast members. “I think the reason I have stuck around is because I love these kids, the cast — they are very good.”
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G
he was right though - the character had potential in season one, and they made him into a racist bumbling old fool, a character flat like week old beer. bad writing
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O
He was great in that show. The tone of the show really shifted and not for the better when he left. It may have made it better for the cast, or the crew, or just for Harmon. But the conflict came through and it gave the show layers.
Glover leaving was really bad too. The Abed Troy thing was the best part of the show. And Chevy or rather Pierce struggling with his racism and prejudices was a really good and needed arc. One that Boomers everywhere need to see over and over and over.
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B
Chevy Chase thinks a lot of himself. He’s a jerk but a good actor.
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G
He has never not been a jerk. This isn't news. It's not his fault, he doesn't hide it. Contact the casting director and fire him.
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G
Chevy was the only reason this show was achknowledged. They used Chevy for his fame and tossed him away in the end. Pretty sad how they treated him and his character. I wouldn't want to keep playing a character that you only made worse.. It's character suicide.
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G
He played Lando, not Solo
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Oh yes, all baby boomers are racist. Way to stereotype.
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O
Whoever cast him as Han Solo, could not have hit the nail with the hammer any better.
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