Chevy Chase tackles racism allegations amid new documentary release

Chevy Chase is opening about his abrupt exit from the NBC sitcom Community back in 2012.

While conversing with The New York Times for an interview about his new CNN documentary, I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not, the former SNL alum addressed the on-set incident which led to his departure.

“It was too great a misunderstanding of what I was saying and not saying,” Chase described the occasion when he reportedly used a racial slur on the show’s set. “I thought that there was at least one person — and another who, for some ungodly reason, didn’t get me, didn’t know who I was, or didn’t realize for one second I’m not racist.”

“They were too young to be aware of my work. Instead, there was some sort of visceral reaction from them,” he further explained.

According to Rolling Stone, the comedian-actor was fired when he “said a racial slur” during a scene where his character “uses a hand puppet wearing blackface”.

Chase, who became “frustrated with his character’s escalating bigotry” used the slur while “asking whether his character would be made to say it next.”

While his co-star on the show, actress Yvette Nicole Brown addressed Chase’s recent comments with her own detailed statement on Instagram.

“Don’t smear any of that mess over here for clout or reputation rehabilitation. This side of the street remains clean,” she wrote in her caption.

Chase additionally said in his recent interview that while working on Community was not “a bad experience”, he “just didn’t think it was that good, the show.”

His new documentary, I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not, was released by CNN on January 1.