# Chappelle talks: Why I walked away. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 13, 2006, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chappelle-talks-why-i-walked-away/352540 "2006-04-13T16:38:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chappelle-talks-why-i-walked-away/352540/121 "2006-04-15T23:47:21Z")
> [@you with the face](#): > > I hope so. I certainly feel like a lone voice of sanity in [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=366822) thread. Makes me wonder why the sane lukers don’t speak up more. > > True that. Just how smug can you possibly be? Everyone who disagrees with you is not a “racist”. Just try and debate and maybe pat yourself on the back in private? ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chappelle-talks-why-i-walked-away/352540/122 "2006-04-15T23:52:43Z")
> [@you with the face](#): > > I hope so. I certainly feel like a lone voice of sanity in [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=366822) thread. Makes me wonder why the sane lukers don’t speak up more. So if no one else supports your position, your logical conclusion isn’t that no one else supports your position, rather that there MUST be people who do, they’re just not saying anything for some reason. :dubious: Kind of assuming facts not in evidence, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chappelle-talks-why-i-walked-away/352540/123 "2006-04-16T00:12:35Z")
> [@Garfield226](#): > > Kind of assuming facts not in evidence, isn’t it? Like the [creative](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7298049&postcount=11) way you interpreted Chappell’s statement to mean that $50 million dollars didn’t make up for slavery? No, to answer your question. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chappelle-talks-why-i-walked-away/352540/124 "2006-04-16T00:23:24Z")
> [@you with the face](#): > > Like the [creative](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7298049&postcount=11) way you interpreted Chappell’s statement to mean that $50 million dollars didn’t make up for slavery? > > No, to answer your question. As I’ve already answered you [once](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7299604&postcount=36), I was responding to **Rubystreak** ’s post. I did address Chappelle directly in the post, but I see that I was responding to **Rubystreak** ’s interpretation of his statement, and not his statement directly, so I apologize for addressing him instead of the post, and retract that part. Doesn’t change the fact that “Hmm, nobody’s agreed with me. . .but I CAN’T be wrong. My supporters are just the quiet type! Yeah, that’s the ticket!” is ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chappelle-talks-why-i-walked-away/352540/125 "2006-04-16T00:26:42Z")
> [@Garfield226](#): > > Doesn’t change the fact that “Hmm, nobody’s agreed with me. . .but I CAN’T be wrong. My supporters are just the quiet type! Yeah, that’s the ticket!” is ridiculous. There you go, misinterpreting people again. Please don’t do that. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chappelle-talks-why-i-walked-away/352540/126 "2006-04-16T00:30:08Z")
> [@BabaBooey](#): > > Have you seen any of his standups? It’s practically the same thing as his show, and to my knowledge CC has no control over his standups. When was the last time he did one? I’ve seen the ones before he went to Africa but that’s irrelevant now. I’m not and never have said that CC made Dave Chappelle say racist sort of things. Only that when he wanted to STOP he was not able to have that kind of control. > [@Lochdale](#): > > Anyone in their right mind would want blacks to do as well as whites, asians, latinos etc. it just hasn’t happened yet. Your naivete is showing again, man. I’d think you’d feel the breeze blowing across it by now, but I guess not. Racism isn’t rational, and people who are racist aren’t acting “in their right mind” about it. That said, I’m sure Chappelle’s decision to bolt wasn’t made in the cold light of logic either. It was an emotional choice that was obviously made under great stress that was building up. > [@Lochdale](#): > > Everyone who disagrees with you is not a “racist”. Did **pizzabrat** say that? No. Just that a lot of the sentiments expressed here sound racist, and it’s disheartening. I don’t think it’s smug for him (?) to say he hopes that there are more folks who agree with them than have been shown in this thread. I’m not so sure, though. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chappelle-talks-why-i-walked-away/352540/127 "2006-04-16T00:45:59Z")
> [@Rubystreak](#): > > Your naivete is showing again, man. I’d think you’d feel the breeze blowing across it by now, but I guess not. Racism isn’t rational, and people who are racist aren’t acting “in their right mind” about it. > . And your condescension is nearing titanic proportions. Most people do want to see others do well if only for the selfish reason that it will cost them less in the long-run. Most people are not racist though I think you wish they were as it would fit into your world view very nicely indeed. It must be great going through life seeing everything in terms of absolutes. The US has done a tremendous amount for black-Americans. A great number of non-blacks have done a tremendous amount for black-Americans. It’s not perfect and it’s not even finished yet but as a society we are making great strides towards some sort of racial parity. Using the race card at any and every opportunity will do more to turn people off helping others than anythign else. It’s fear mongers like yourself who want to put anything and everything down to “racism” that does as much to retard the socio-economic growth and development of black-Americans as any racist does. ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chappelle-talks-why-i-walked-away/352540/128 "2006-04-16T00:53:00Z")
> [@Euthanasiast](#): > > How many people are even alive today that even witnessed a lynching? How long do you get to pull that skeleton out of the closet and beat us with it like a monkey on a snare drum. In a thousand years we’ll still be hearing about it. And furthermore, I’m not hearing about it from blacks, it’s liberals that are screaming it from the roof tops. Black people for the most part just want to put it behind them and move on. This is the right thing to do, because dwelling on this awful past is anything but constructive. > > Yes it sucked, for the millionth time, it sucked. So when do we move on? You’re completely missing the point here. I’m not introducing a new sociological theory when I observe that poverty and its pathologies are transmitted from generation to generation. And what percentage of black people now alive have parents who got a substandard education, just because they were black? Your airily saying, “Oh, get over it” does nothing to restore an education to those black people who were deprived of one, nor make up for the hundreds of thousands of dollars of lifetime income that each one forewent. But you do demonstrate quite nicely the callousness about racism and its aftereffects that conservatives are capable of. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chappelle-talks-why-i-walked-away/352540/129 "2006-04-16T01:02:22Z")
OK. This is an exerpt from a Time article shortly after Chappelle fled to S.A.: > [@](#): > > Herzog confirms he gave the comic a firm deadline to deliver the season’s shows—but says Chappelle never called him before going AWOL. He notes that this was the second delay Chappelle had asked for. The show had been postponed in December…As for the direction of the series, says Herzog, it was ultimately up to the show’s namesake: “He absolutely has complete creative freedom. > There’s no one from the network sitting on his head. Dave is in charge of his own world.” Chappelle’s writing partner, Neal Brennan, agrees. He tells TIME that Chappelle had “literally absolute, complete, creative freedom” and plenty of time to work. To some extent, his colleagues profess bafflement about Chappelle’s reaction to what seemed to be garden-variety creative differences. “There were 1,000 ways to deal with this,” says Brennan. “By the numbers, this was the worst way to have done it. He couldn’t think straight. It was fight or flight—and he chose flight.” So…they’re lying? ---
**Author:** ![pokey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ebca7d/32.png) [@pokey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pokey)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chappelle-talks-why-i-walked-away/352540/130 "2006-04-16T01:07:33Z")
> [@you with the face](#): > > I hope so. I certainly feel like a lone voice of sanity in [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=366822) thread. Makes me wonder why the sane lukers don’t speak up more. Because when people claim there’s no such thing as a valid perception of racism they’re basically negating anything you can say before you even say it. It’s like having the opinion that all other opinions are stupid. It’s not something a sane person can respond to. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chappelle-talks-why-i-walked-away/352540/131 "2006-04-16T01:12:07Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > Heh, nice link. > > I’m surprised you say that you still admire him. It’s appears that he has left a number of people in the lurch including his co-writer, Charlie Murphy and a number of employees at CC. > > A contract is a contract. There was no suggestion of duress so I’m sorry, I don’t admire someone who walks out on their word. We’re not privy to the precise details of the contract, beyond that Dave did and did not deliver beyond what we all assume to be the terms of the third season of Chappelle’s Show. Comedy Central has begrudgingly not pursued litigtation, which makes me think that he MUST’VE settled some contractual obligations before he walked. Duress isn’t the only reason to abandon a contract, nor is duress the only focal point we should be concerned with in contract negotiations, especially where creative control must be assumed to have been a sticking point. Granted Chappelle walked out on his word – but he did not do so without consequence. Chappelle received (no doubt) a huge finanacial penalty, for walking off and damaged a number of number of business contacts/relationships on the way out the door, people who undoubtedly cast asperions on his name and stability to his sanity to this very day. That he still went ahead and walked away is admirable. Lots of people would have just sucked it in, done the third season, did the dancing Negro act. He didn’t. He said in the letter to white folks that’s “Wayans Brothers territory.” **Lochdale** , to me, that’s admirable. On the other hand, long-term, I don’t really see this hurting Chappelle Show co-writer Neal Brennan, who will find work in the industry as long as he wants it, and I see this potentially benefitting Charlie Murphy enormously, who shone on two seasons of Chappelle’s Show as a player and writer, is co-writing a movie with brother Eddie coming out next year and has several projects coming out this year. According to [imdb.com](http://imdb.com) most of the shows writing staff and associate producers have moved on to other projects. Talented people aren’t idle very long unless they want to be. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chappelle-talks-why-i-walked-away/352540/132 "2006-04-16T01:13:38Z")
**Loopydude** , I don’t think they’re lying about his need to flee. I think Chappelle did bolt because he was overwhelmed, conflicted, scared, and upset. None of that means he’s crazy. I think he made a choice that _saved_ his sanity and peace of mind. Might he have done it in a better way? Sure, but I think he did what he felt he had to do. I don’t think breaking a contract you can’t keep is evil nor any of my business. It happens in show biz and people pay the price for breaking the contract, and that’s it. As for the creative control, the article says there were creative differences that led to Chappelle’s retreat. If he had total control, why would there be? The show would just have changed to suit his new POV and there would have been no conflict. Are you denying that he likely felt pressure to churn out a similar product to past seasons when he felt he couldn’t do it anymore? > [@Lochdale](#): > > And your condescension is nearing titanic proportions. Pot, meet kettle. I think you’re just going to have to get over it, because I feel I’m being pretty damn civil to you, considering. > [@](#): > > Most people do want to see others do well if only for the selfish reason that it will cost them less in the long-run. Most people are not racist though I think you wish they were as it would fit into your world view very nicely indeed. It must be great going through life seeing everything in terms of absolutes. See, when you tell me you think I wish people to be racist, I have the urge to be a lot more than condescending. What a twisted, uncalled for, wrong thing to say. My god, then you wonder why more people don’t get into these debates with people like you; who wants to take this kind of abuse to argue with a stranger on the internet? It’s not a debate anymore when you make idiotic statements like this, hence the contention that people might be reading this thread that disagree with you who don’t want to comment. I hope so, and I don’t blame people who don’t want to sling shit aroung like this. I’m about done myself. I think there are degrees of racism, one of which you are displaying by denying that people are still suffering in this country. I do not attribute malice to you, just ignorance and naivete. Not everyone is going to form a lynch mob, but unfortunately for your worldview, it’s not that black and white (pun intended). Racism is alive and well in overt and in subtle ways, but its effect on the culture is undeniable. You choose to ignore all the evidence and dismiss anyone who contradicts your opinion. Must be nice to live in your world, but it ain’t the real world. > [@](#): > > Using the race card at any and every opportunity will do more to turn people off helping others than anythign else. So pointing out racism is using the race card, eh? And you say you’re not overreacting or defensive. Ha. > [@](#): > > It’s fear mongers like yourself who want to put anything and everything down to “racism” that does as much to retard the socio-economic growth and development of black-Americans as any racist does. Sticks and stones, man. Not everyone who disagrees with you is a fear-monger, just like not everyone who disagrees with **pizzabrat** is a racist. You seem to enjoy making these blanket statements that are VAST overstatements of the original comment, just to further your rather weak rhetorical point. Give it a rest, willya? ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chappelle-talks-why-i-walked-away/352540/133 "2006-04-16T01:18:52Z")
> [@Loopydude](#): > > So…they’re lying? No. But they’re substantially downplaying the amount of imput they give, “suggestions” they offer, market research they do, and influence they have. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chappelle-talks-why-i-walked-away/352540/134 "2006-04-16T01:51:30Z")
> [@Rubystreak](#): > > [ > Pot, meet kettle. I think you’re just going to have to get over it, because I feel I’m being pretty damn civil to you, considering. Considering what? That I have the temerity to question your point of view? That I find your blanket absolutism simplistic and intellectually wanting? ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chappelle-talks-why-i-walked-away/352540/135 "2006-04-16T01:52:45Z")
> [@Rubystreak](#): > > As for the creative control, the article says there were creative differences that led to Chappelle’s retreat. If he had total control, why would there be? The show would just have changed to suit his new POV and there would have been no conflict. Are you denying that he likely felt pressure to churn out a similar product to past seasons when he felt he couldn’t do it anymore? Chappelle is quoted in another article as having said to Herzog that he was tired of being “right” all the time. He also complained about people telling him he was such a genius, and wanted to know he could be “wrong” on occasion. A guy who’s tired of being right but runs away from creative differences with an ensemble of writers presents some odd contradictions. Honestly, I can’t make heads or tails of it. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chappelle-talks-why-i-walked-away/352540/136 "2006-04-16T01:53:56Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > Lots of people would have just sucked it in, done the third season, did the dancing Negro act. He didn’t. He said in the letter to white folks that’s “Wayans Brothers territory.” **Lochdale** , to me, that’s admirable. Was there ever any criticism that Chappelle was heading into “Wayans Brothers territory” before he walked out? That is, this sense that Chappelle was doing a minstrel act seems fairly new. I never heard anyone suggest that before he went AWOL so I am a little confused as his newfound piety. Additionally, just because Brennan and Muprhy may do ok after this doesn’t obviate the fact that Chappelle did not keep his word on a multi-million dollar contract that he entered into without duress. I guess you and I have different versions of integrity. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chappelle-talks-why-i-walked-away/352540/137 "2006-04-16T01:54:10Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > Lots of people would have just sucked it in, done the third season, did the dancing Negro act. He didn’t. He said in the letter to white folks that’s “Wayans Brothers territory.” **Lochdale** , to me, that’s admirable. Was there ever any criticism that Chappelle was heading into “Wayans Brothers territory” before he walked out? That is, this sense that Chappelle was doing a minstrel act seems fairly new. I never heard anyone suggest that before he went AWOL so I am a little confused as to his newfound piety. Additionally, just because Brennan and Muprhy may do ok after this doesn’t obviate the fact that Chappelle did not keep his word on a multi-million dollar contract that he entered into without duress. I guess you and I have different versions of integrity. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chappelle-talks-why-i-walked-away/352540/138 "2006-04-16T02:12:02Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > Considering what? That I have the temerity to question your point of view? That I find your blanket absolutism simplistic and intellectually wanting? Turn your post around and direct it at yourself. This is exactly how I feel about your arguments. What I find very difficult is to remain civil when you have directed such nasty nonsense towards me. You accused me of setting the cause of African Americans back by believing there is still racism, and said you thought I wished people were racist to support my fear-mongering POV. If we were having this conversation in person, I would have insulted your mother and walked away by now. This is not a debate anymore. It’s an ad hominem snarkfest. G’night. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chappelle-talks-why-i-walked-away/352540/139 "2006-04-16T02:16:59Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > Additionally, just because Brennan and Muprhy may do ok after this doesn’t obviate the fact that Chappelle did not keep his word on a multi-million dollar contract that he entered into without duress. I guess you and I have different versions of integrity. So what was he supposed to do? Take the money and keep working on the show, even though he didn’t want to anymore? Slavery went out of style back in 1863, last time I checked. ---
**Author:** ![pokey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ebca7d/32.png) [@pokey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pokey)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chappelle-talks-why-i-walked-away/352540/140 "2006-04-16T02:23:50Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > Using the race card at any and every opportunity will do more to turn people off helping others than anythign else. Boy, I don’t want to be rude or anything but this really got me laughing. Look out black Americans, your precious supply of help is in danger! Think about what could happen if there were, say, a big big storm or something. That’s an awesome view of your country you have there. Most people aren’t racist and want to help out black people out, they honestly do, but shhh don’t complain about anything or they’ll taketh away. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chappelle-talks-why-i-walked-away/352540.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chappelle-talks-why-i-walked-away/352540.md?page=8)