Why Does Everyone Hate Chevy Chase?

I’m Chevy Chase, and You’re Not, a documentary about notorious comedian Chevy Chase, wants to fill the world in on what the comic mastermind has been up to in recent years. Premiering on New Year’s Day, it will also touch on the more divisive moments of his career. What the documentary has not done is endear Chevy Chase to the Hollywood players who have cast him out. It’s actually serving as a reminder of why his castmates over the years have disliked him so much. So, why does everyone hate Chevy Chase? The stories of his aggressive behavior, misogynistic comments, and temper tantrums are legendary.

Chevy Chase was called out by ‘SNL’ castmates early in his career

Chevy Chase had an epic career; he’s also made many enemies in Hollywood. I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not seems to delve into that notion, but talk about Chase and his antics have swirled around the media for years before the documentary was announced. Chase’s problems with co-stars and on-set date back to his time on Saturday Night Live.

Chase was the iconic variety show’s first breakout star. While he wasn’t on the show long, his sudden rise to stardom did little to quell his ego. Over the years, other stars from that time period have spoken about Chase. In Live From New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live, Bill Murray recalled Chase’s ego and tantrums, revealing a physical backstage fight he and the comedian had. He, along with several others who worked with Chase, has said he used racially-charged language when angry.

Dan Akyrod has answered questions about Chevy Chase over the years, too. Akyrod’s responses have been more measured. Still, he has always been adamant that Chase lacked the self-awareness to understand how his behavior affected others. Several people who have worked with him over the years admit that Chase is an extraordinary talent who behaves terribly, making him difficult to work with.

His stint on ‘Community’ ended in an epic meltdown

One of Chevy Chase’s more recent projects was Community. It appears that age and decades in Hollywood did little to temper his behavior. Chase was so disruptive and difficult on set that most of his costars from the series have opted not to talk about him. They absolutely refused to be involved with the documentary about the comedian.

In the intervening years, however, they have spoken out. In a chat with The New Yorker, Donald Glover outlined how Chase, seemingly threatened by his talent, made racially charged remarks about him regularly, suggesting that people only believed he was funny because he was black. Glover said Chase was dismissive, argumentative, and disruptive to the process.

Joel McHale called the comedian exhausting to be around. He commented on Chase’s recollection of his time on Community after the comedian appeared on a podcast. McHale seemed stymied by Chase’s admission that he didn’t believe he had a reputation for being difficult, and scoffed at Chase’s suggestion that the rest of the cast of Community was the problem.

The stunning lack of self-awareness seemed to be a common theme for Chase. It is seemingly part of the reason why so many people in Hollywood are reluctant to work with him. If he doesn’t think there is a problem, he’s not going to alter his behavior, as evidenced by the title of the documentary.