Chevy Chase says he’s not racist as a new documentary revisits long running accusations

Comedy icon Chevy Chase is again addressing long-running controversy around his behavior, insisting he is not racist following the release of a new documentary examining his career and reputation. The 82-year-old actor has pushed back against accusations tied to alleged racism and hostility toward colleagues.

According to LADbible, which reviewed interviews tied to the documentary’s release, Chase believes much of the criticism stems from misunderstandings or generational gaps rather than prejudice. The documentary, I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not, premiered on New Year’s Day and revisits moments that have shaped his public image.

The film does little to soften that image. It highlights Chase’s combative personality, including a tense exchange with director Marina Zenovich in which he dismissed her attempt to “figure him out” by saying she was not “bright enough.” Similar discussions about backlash and delayed responses have surfaced elsewhere, including a recent incident of Google facing criticism over long-requested Gmail changes.

This explanation does not sit comfortably with many people

Much of the scrutiny surrounding Chase traces back to his time on the NBC sitcom Community, where he played Pierce Hawthorne from 2009 to 2013. Allegations from that period describe a tense work environment, particularly involving co-stars Donald Glover and Yvette Nicole Brown.

The most serious claim involves Chase reportedly using the N-word during a disagreement over a storyline featuring what he described as a “blackface hand puppet.” Chase has said the incident was a misunderstanding, maintaining that his intent was misread and that he is not racist.

He has argued that some accusers did not truly know him or his career and reacted without context. Chase has also repeated a story about his friendship with Richard Pryor, claiming they exchanged slurs affectionately, a defense that has been widely criticized. Similar debates about reframing past creative decisions have appeared elsewhere in pop culture, including a recent piece on the Stranger Things creators abandoning plans to redeem Vecna.

Accounts from others on Community describe ongoing conflict. Director Jay Chandrasekhar has recalled a racially charged remark that led to both Chase and Brown leaving the set.

Chase’s relationship with creator Dan Harmon also deteriorated. A leaked voicemail captured Chase complaining that the series was “not my kind of comedy,” and he was eventually written out of the show. None of his former co-stars appear in the documentary, and Brown has since said revisiting the issue further was “beneath” her. Despite everything, Chase has dismissed the series itself, saying, “It wasn’t a bad experience. I just didn’t think it was that good, the show.”