Chevy Chase Had ‘Full Meltdown’ on Community Set After N-Word Incident Leaked, Said ‘My Career Is Ruined,’ Witness Recalls

More details are emerging about the on-set incident that preceded Chevy Chase’s departure from Community.

In I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not — a new authorized documentary about the 82-year-old actor and comedian — director Jay Chandrasekhar describes being present for the 2012 moment in which Chase used a racial slur and the fallout that followed, including what Chandrasekhar characterizes as a later “meltdown.”

Chandrasekhar, 57, who directed multiple episodes of the sitcom, says in the CNN film (out Jan. 1) that he “was there, directing, the night that Chevy Chase got fired from Community.” He traces the tension back to a storyline involving a “blackface” hand-puppet bit written for Chase’s character, Pierce Hawthorne.

During production, Chandrasekhar recalls that Chase “said something” to costar Yvette Nicole Brown — though he says he didn’t hear the exact wording. At the time, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Chase was frustrated with the direction of Pierce’s character and used the N-word “when questioning the dialogue.” The report also stated that while Donald Glover and Brown, 54 — both of whom are Black — were present, “The slur was not directed at them.”

Chandrasekhar says that after the remark, Brown “got up and stormed out,” and Chase also left the set. He recalls a producer telling him they needed Brown for the next scene — but that she wouldn’t return unless Chase apologized.

According to Chandrasekhar, Chase came back but insisted he hadn’t done anything wrong. He recounts Chase referencing a past relationship with Richard Pryor, saying he used a racial slur with Pryor and Pryor used a derogatory term in return — and that they “loved each other.” Chandrasekhar says he asked for “a little apology,” but Chase responded by asking what he should be apologizing for.

Chandrasekhar also recalls that after filming, someone leaked word of a “racial incident” to the press. When the cast returned to work after the leak, he says Chase arrived angry and had a “full meltdown,” shouting accusations and profanity. Chandrasekhar says they tried to proceed with the scene, but adds that Chase “never ended up coming back after that.”

Following the 2012 incident, production was halted, and Chase was later reportedly compelled to issue an apology. He ultimately left Community after season 4, which aired in 2013, though he later returned briefly for an episode in 2014.

Chase’s exit followed not only the on-set blowup but also a public feud with creator Dan Harmon over creative disagreements — also covered in the documentary. Chandrasekhar notes that Chase had developed a reputation for being difficult on the series, and he references an incident at a wrap party where Harmon rallied attendees to chant profanities aimed at Chase — a moment that later fed into a widely circulated, profanity-filled voicemail Chase left for the showrunner.

In the documentary, one of Chase’s daughters, Caley Chase, recalls attending that wrap party with her parents and describes walking in as the chant began. She says her father had been excited to bring them to celebrate the show, and calls the moment “rough” and “mean.”

I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not, directed by Marina Zenovich, premieres Jan. 1 at 8 p.m. EST / 5 p.m. PST on CNN.