Yvette Nicole Brown Breaks Silence on Chevy Chase Documentary

Key Takeaways

• Yvette Nicole Brown has spoken out ahead of the release of CNN’s Chevy Chase documentary, addressing a tense incident between her and Chase on the set of Community.
• The incident allegedly involved Chase using the N-word, and Brown has stated that anyone speaking on her behalf about the incident does not have her permission.
• Brown has chosen not to speak publicly about the incident, citing that it is "beneath" her and that she does not want to "sully" herself.
• The documentary, I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not, claims to detail the incident and Chase’s behavior on set, including his use of a "blackface hand puppet" storyline.
• The cast of Community, including Brown, has declined to participate in the documentary.

Introduction to the Incident
The upcoming CNN documentary, I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not, has sparked a response from Yvette Nicole Brown, who starred alongside Chase in the popular sitcom Community. Brown took to Instagram to address the recent chatter surrounding the film, without directly naming her former costar. She stated that anyone speaking on her behalf about the incident does not have her permission and that they do not truly know her or her relationships with her coworkers. Brown’s statement comes ahead of the documentary’s release, which promises to shed light on Chase’s behavior on the set of Community, including a tense incident involving Brown.

The Incident on Set
According to the documentary’s director, Jay Chandrasekhar, the incident in question began with a "blackface hand puppet" storyline that was written for Chase’s character, Pierce Hawthorne. Chandrasekhar claims that filming began to derail after Chase allegedly said something to Brown that he did not hear. Brown then got up and stormed off the set, and when Chase returned, he denied saying anything to her and did not apologize. The situation escalated when a "racial incident" was leaked to The Hollywood Reporter, leading to Chase having a "full meltdown" and eventually leaving the show. Chase’s behavior on set has been well-documented, and the incident with Brown is just one example of his reputation as a difficult collaborator.

Brown’s Response
Brown’s statement on Instagram was a clear response to the documentary and the incident on set. She explained that she has chosen not to speak publicly about the incident, citing that it is "beneath" her and that she does not want to "sully" herself. Brown also stated that she has no problem speaking up when it is warranted, but in this case, she believes that speaking out would not change anything and would only perpetuate "tawdry, low-vibrational or dumb" behavior. Brown’s decision to stay out of the conversation is likely a deliberate choice to avoid giving attention to Chase’s behavior and to maintain her own dignity.

The Documentary and Its Claims
The documentary, I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not, promises to detail Chase’s rise to fame and his later reputation as a difficult collaborator. The film’s director, Jay Chandrasekhar, claims to have been present on the night that Chase got fired from Community and describes the incident in detail. However, it is worth noting that none of the cast members of Community, including Brown, agreed to participate in the documentary. This lack of participation may be due to the cast’s desire to distance themselves from Chase’s behavior and to avoid perpetuating a narrative that they do not agree with.

Conclusion
Yvette Nicole Brown’s statement on Instagram is a clear response to the upcoming documentary and the incident on set of Community. Brown’s decision to stay out of the conversation is likely a deliberate choice to avoid giving attention to Chase’s behavior and to maintain her own dignity. The documentary’s claims about Chase’s behavior on set are certainly troubling, and it will be interesting to see how the film is received when it is released. Regardless of the documentary’s claims, it is clear that Brown is choosing to take the high road and to maintain her own integrity, rather than engaging with Chase’s behavior or the documentary’s narrative.