Hollywood Stars Who Have a Bone to Pick with Chevy Chase

Chevy Chase, a prominent comedic figure during the ’70s and ’80s, made a name for himself as a founding member of “Saturday Night Live,” where he pioneered the “Weekend Update” segment, later taken over by legends like Norm Macdonald and Tina Fey. Though he spent less than two years on “SNL,” he transitioned smoothly to film with successes like “Caddyshack” and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.”

Chase’s latest notable role was in “Community” as Pierce Hawthorne, but he has been largely absent from the spotlight lately. His controversial behavior on set has led to many in the entertainment industry distancing themselves from him. Incidents of inappropriate remarks and disputes with co-stars have tarnished his reputation among fellow celebrities.

After leaving “SNL,” Chevy Chase returned to guest host in 1978, but tensions had reportedly arisen with Bill Murray, who replaced him. Murray’s reception had not been as favorable, leading to underlying resentment. Upon Chase’s return, their confrontation escalated, culminating in an altercation that required John Belushi to step in and separate them. Chase later shared that while they tried to fight, they ended up hitting Belushi instead, and both recalled the incident lightly.

Murray recollected that the fight was more of a theatrical squabble. Both eventually settled their differences and now regard each other as friends.

In “Community,” although the series was beloved, it was rife with tensions, particularly involving Chevy Chase and Donald Glover. Chase reportedly made derogatory comments towards Glover, claiming that audiences believed Glover was funnier solely because of his race. Producer Dan Harmon commented that while Chase recognized Glover’s talent, his jealousy manifested in hurtful comments.

While Glover never confirmed these allegations, he alluded to them in a joke during the Writers Guild Awards, suggesting that Chase’s language mirrored insensitive attitudes. Glover’s representative clarified his remarks were in jest, leaving Chase’s alleged comments somewhat ambiguous.

Joel McHale is also known for his strained relationship with Chevy Chase during their time on “Community.” Chase expressed his dissatisfaction with working alongside McHale.

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Joel McHale Responds to Chevy Chase’s Complaints

On the WTF Podcast, Chevy Chase expressed his dissatisfaction with the writing and cast of “Community.” In reaction, Joel McHale remarked to People, “Hey, you could have left if you really wanted to. No one forced you to be there. But that’s just Chevy being Chevy.”

In a March episode of “Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum”, McHale disclosed that there were physical altercations between him and Chase during filming, including an incident where he injured Chase. He noted that Chase was well-compensated and receiving free meals, implying he could easily have walked away if he was unhappy. McHale found some joy in their staged boxing scene, where he got to punch Chase.

Pete Davidson’s Take on Chevy Chase

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Chevy Chase received backlash from Pete Davidson after Chase criticized “Saturday Night Live.” Davidson didn’t hold back on Howard Stern’s show, calling Chase a “douchebag” and a “genuinely bad, racist person.” He emphasized that Chase’s criticism was disrespectful to Lorne Michaels, the creator who helped launch his career.

Despite the criticisms, Chase remains unfazed. He told CBS, per People, “I am who I am, and I like who I am. I don’t care what others think.”

Will Ferrell’s Critique of Chevy Chase

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After Chevy Chase’s departure from “Saturday Night Live” in 1976, he faced criticism during his guest hosting from Will Ferrell. In the book “Live From New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live”, Ferrell labeled Chase as the worst host, recalling his awkward behavior and an inappropriate comment made to a female staffer that embarrassed producer Lorne Michaels.

Chase later criticized the sketches on “SNL,” including Ferrell’s work, saying, “Just not funny. Makes $25 million a picture.”