Caley Chase, daughter of actor Chevy Chase, has shared her experience of the cast and crew of the NBC sitcom Community heckling her father during the show’s wrap party. This revelation was made in the CNN documentary, I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not. According to Caley, the atmosphere turned uncomfortable when the cast began shouting, “F*** you, Chevy!” upon their arrival.
Caley, now 40, recalled her father’s excitement to showcase the show that had been a significant part of his career. “My dad was super excited to bring me and my mom to the wrap party,” she noted. “We walk in, and Dan [Harmon], he had had some drinks. He had gotten the whole cast and crew to yell, ‘F*** you, Chevy!’” The sentiment expressed by Caley highlights the tension that had developed during the show’s production.
Background of Tensions on Set
Community, which premiered in 2009, followed the comedic escapades of a community college study group. After five successful seasons, the show was revived for a sixth season on Yahoo! Screen in 2015. Chase played the role of Pierce Hawthorne but left the series in 2012 following a controversial incident involving the use of a racial slur on set.
In the documentary, director Jay Chandrasekhar recounted the events surrounding the incident that led to Chase’s departure. He noted that it occurred during a scene involving a “blackface” hand puppet skit intended for Chase’s character. Co-star Yvette Nicole Brown walked out in reaction to the skit, highlighting the racial tensions present on set.
Chandrasekhar described the fallout from the incident, recalling how the producers responded to Brown’s departure. “The producer is like, ‘We need Yvette in the scene, right?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, she’s in the next scene.’ And he goes, ‘Well, she won’t come out unless Chevy apologizes to her,’” he explained. Despite being urged to apologize, Chase reportedly responded with disbelief, asking, “For what?”
Chase’s Reaction and Career Impact
The fallout from the incident escalated when The Hollywood Reporter published a story detailing the events. Chandrasekhar described Chase’s reaction as a “full meltdown,” with the actor expressing frustration over the negative impact on his career. “Who f***ed me over? My career is ruined! I’m ruined!” he allegedly exclaimed, further indicating the severity of the situation.
Chase’s relationship with showrunner Dan Harmon was also strained during his tenure on Community. Harmon was dismissed as showrunner shortly after an angry voicemail from Chase became public. On the WTF with Marc Maron podcast in 2023, Chase reflected on their relationship, stating, “I have no idea if we’re OK. I’ve never been not OK. He’s kind of a pisser. He’s angry. He called and said he was sorry. I love him now.”
Brown, who witnessed the fallout, commented on Chase’s podcast interview, quipping on social media, “He seems nice.” When asked by a fan if she would address her working dynamic with Chase, she replied, “Never have. Probably never will.”
As the documentary reveals, the tensions that unfolded during the production of Community provide a glimpse into the complexities of relationships behind the scenes of a beloved television series. Chase’s experiences serve as a reminder of the challenges faced by those in the entertainment industry, particularly when navigating sensitive topics such as race and respect in a collaborative environment.
