# What happened to Dave Chappelle? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 6, 2010, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-dave-chappelle/549365 "2010-08-06T03:29:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-dave-chappelle/549365/21 "2010-08-06T17:17:16Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > As I remember, the first season of his Comedy Central series was a big seller on DVD. Really big. So when they asked him to do a second season, he didn’t really want to do it, so he asked for the ridiculous amount of $50 million. They agreed, because the DVD sales were so lucrative. But then he really didn’t want to do it, so he disappeared and when to South Africa for a while. That’s pretty much correct except he was being paid $50 million for the third season, not the second. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-dave-chappelle/549365/22 "2010-08-06T17:24:04Z")
> [@Captain\_Midnight](#): > > He has a large farm in Yellow Springs, Ohio (what does the term ‘Yellow Springs’ come to mind mentally for you?) Perfection. If I could afford to retire, that’s where I’d go. > [@](#): > > Ohio seemed like a strange place to want to retire, since it is so cold there and somewhat economically depressed. It’s not always cold there. And what does the economy matter to a millionaire? Yellow Springs is a very nice hippie town in the middle of farmland. I’m sure he gets all the weed he wants. > [@](#): > > I’d live in Washington State (again, Ohio, why?) It’s where he’s from. He likes the people, the atmosphere. He’s said that in Yellow Springs, people don’t treat him like a celebrity. It’s true. When I saw him in Yellow Springs, I left him alone. > [@Sampiro](#): > > Unfortunately he also seems to be a major league asshole- his comments about how the network wanted to control him (dude- you signed a $50 million contract with them, HELL YEAH they probably want a say-so but they also know that you know what you’re doing) He didn’t like what he had to give them in exchange for the money. Chappelle was in show business for a long time before he became famous. Things change suddenly when you become famous and most people aren’t prepared for that. And he gave pretty detailed explanations of what he didn’t like about what he had to give up in exchange for $50 million. Until they start to enforce a contract, it’s not necessarily clear up front what you’re actually getting yourself into. > [@](#): > > and about the unfairness of the white power structure in Hollywood (uh, dude, again, you’re in possession of a $50 million contract- $50 mil is power, and there are probably more blacks with major power in entertainment than any other field [Oprah, Berry Gordy, Quincy Jones, etc.]) $50 million is still dogfood in certain respects. Ever heard Chris Rock explain the difference between being “rich” and “wealthy”? The guy writing a check for $50 million has a lot more power than the guy taking the check. > [@](#): > > and how people would call out “I’m Rick James Bitch!” whenever they saw him (celebrities get pestered by obnoxious fans- who knew?) Most celebrities complain about this kind of stuff. People get into creative fields because they want their work appreciated. They don’t necessarily catch on until it’s too late how much it can change yourlife. > [@](#): > > and other self important self pitying diatribes got really old. Quitting a show for personal reasons is fine, it’s his life, but don’t try to act like it’s some grand and important social statement. This one sentence here is a good illustration of why celebrity can make people crazy. The public makes all kinds of demands on you and then when you try to meet them, they call you names. The only reason Chappelle went into this kind of stuff is because people wouldn’t leave him alone and kept demanding explanations. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-dave-chappelle/549365/23 "2010-08-06T18:26:47Z")
I saw an interview he did, maybe “Inside the Actors Studio”, where he said one reason he left was the racist skecthes they were doing. He said something like during the first season it was all in fun and they were just goofing around but in the second season people were taking the sketches the wrong way. He said early in the show when they did those type of sketches peoples attitudes were like, “Haha it’s funny that you guys are making fun of that stereotype.” and later some peoples attitudes changed to, “Haha that sketch is funny because the stereotype is true.” or something like that and he said that bothered him. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-dave-chappelle/549365/24 "2010-08-06T18:29:11Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > > [@PSXer](#): > > > > I am tired as heck of everyone mocking every state they don’t like > > Pennsylvania is a dick. True dat. Ever been to Erie? Entirely new set of road rules. Avoid at all costs. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-dave-chappelle/549365/25 "2010-08-06T19:34:30Z")
> [@Tahssa](#): > > I saw an interview he did, maybe “Inside the Actors Studio”, where he said one reason he left was the racist skecthes they were doing. He said something like during the first season it was all in fun and they were just goofing around but in the second season people were taking the sketches the wrong way. > > He said early in the show when they did those type of sketches peoples attitudes were like, “Haha it’s funny that you guys are making fun of that stereotype.” and later some peoples attitudes changed to, “Haha that sketch is funny because the stereotype is true.” or something like that and he said that bothered him. I can kind of see that. I used to know a guy who was a birther and had no problem throwing the n-word into casual conversation. Yet he loved this show. ---
**Author:** ![antia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee59a6/32.png) [@antia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antia)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-dave-chappelle/549365/26 "2010-08-07T15:08:41Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > > [@aceplace57](#): > > > > Dave made the news three weeks ago. > > [Dave Chappelle Deemed 'Safety Risk' on Private Jet](http://www.tmz.com/2010/07/03/dave-chappelle-private-jet-kicked-off-security-risk-safety-risk/) > > I’m surprised that in this post 9/11 age he was able to even get into the cockpit. I had assumed they kept those doors locked at all times now and that they were heavily reinforced. You have reason to be surprised. The story started on a celeb gossip site and has no credibility, any more than the claims of mental issues and weed smoking. He lives in YS because his family lives here, his friends live here, and he can enjoy some level of privacy and respect in a town that knows him well enough to know the stories on celeb sites are just, well gossip. Some of the claims and stories are laughable at times. ys resident ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-dave-chappelle/549365/27 "2010-08-07T16:01:35Z")
FYI, I live not far from Yellow Springs. It’s a hippie town; lots of art shops and cafes. It’s a bit out of place in this part of Ohio. Another FYI… I am friends with the owners of a large motorcycle shop in Springfield, OH. A couple months ago Mr. Chappelle came in to purchase a motorcycle from them. He was trading in an old bike for a new one. (I forget what kind if motorcycle they said it was.) Anyway, I guess the new bike had quite a bit more horsepower than his old one, and they said Mr. Chappelle was scared to death he would wreck it on the way home. So Mr. Chappelle asked a couple of the sales guys to follow him as he rode it home. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-dave-chappelle/549365/28 "2010-08-07T16:14:54Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > FYI, I live not far from Yellow Springs. It’s a hippie town; lots of art shops and cafes. It’s a bit out of place in this part of Ohio. > > Another FYI… > > I am friends with the owners of a large motorcycle shop in Springfield, OH. A couple months ago Mr. Chappelle came in to purchase a motorcycle from them. He was trading in an old bike for a new one. (I forget what kind if motorcycle they said it was.) Anyway, I guess the new bike had quite a bit more horsepower than his old one, and they said Mr. Chappelle was scared to death he would wreck it on the way home. So Mr. Chappelle asked a couple of the sales guys to follow him as he rode it home. A sensible precaution. I’ve heard of people trashing powerful new motorcycles within 30 seconds of the dealership beacuse they could not control them properly. ---
**Author:** ![Oregon\_sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/50afbb/32.png) [@Oregon\_sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oregon_sunshine)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-dave-chappelle/549365/29 "2010-08-07T17:01:36Z")
> [@](#): > > He has a large farm in Yellow Springs, Ohio (what does the term ‘Yellow Springs’ come to mind mentally for you?) His father was a teacher at Antioch College and he says that he loves the area and the quality of life. OMG I used to live there!!! “Yellow Springs” brings to mind images of beautiful woods, waterfalls, hiking trails, Glen Helen, Clifton Gorge, natural food stores and vegetarian restaurants (even in the 80s!!) and dirty Ohio hippies playing Frisbee Golf… ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-dave-chappelle/549365/30 "2010-08-07T17:11:20Z")
[QUOTE=antia] The story started on a celeb gossip site and has no credibility, any more than the claims of mental issues and weed smoking. [/QUOTE] The stuff about weed comes from his own mouth. > [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > FYI, I live not far from Yellow Springs. It’s a hippie town; lots of art shops and cafes. It’s a bit out of place in this part of Ohio. Utter rubbish. It’s as home-grown as anything else in that part of Ohio. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-dave-chappelle/549365/31 "2010-08-07T17:37:02Z")
I was never impressed by the Chappelle Show but I enjoyed some of the standup he did. He came across as a whiny bitch when he quit and I lost a lot of respect for him. Fuck him, wherever he is. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-dave-chappelle/549365/32 "2010-08-07T17:41:49Z")
Why do so many people seem to think Ohio is some kind of frostbitten, post-industrial wasteland? Much of the state is quite lovely, IMO (not so much when you’re driving). ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-dave-chappelle/549365/33 "2010-08-07T17:44:27Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > Why do so many people seem to think Ohio is some kind of frostbitten, post-industrial wasteland? Much of the state is quite lovely, IMO (not so much when you’re driving). Personally I have always believed that this is because some huge majority of ex-pat Ohioans seem to be from Cleveland. If the only Ohioans you ever meet are ex-Clevelandites, then of course you’re going to think that Ohio is some kind of frostbitten, post-industrial wasteland. And really, even Cleveland isn’t _that_ bad. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![antia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee59a6/32.png) [@antia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antia)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-dave-chappelle/549365/34 "2010-08-07T18:02:54Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > [QUOTE=antia] > The story started on a celeb gossip site and has no credibility, any more than the claims of mental issues and weed smoking. The stuff about weed comes from his own mouth. [/QUOTE] In what context and when, before 98? After that it is hardly likely since he became a muslim, and he certainly doesn’t hang around town doing such a thing. ---
**Author:** ![antia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee59a6/32.png) [@antia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antia)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-dave-chappelle/549365/35 "2010-08-07T18:11:48Z")
> [@Oregon\_sunshine](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > He has a large farm in Yellow Springs, Ohio (what does the term ‘Yellow Springs’ come to mind mentally for you?) His father was a teacher at Antioch College and he says that he loves the area and the quality of life. > > OMG I used to live there!!! > “Yellow Springs” brings to mind images of beautiful woods, waterfalls, hiking trails, Glen Helen, Clifton Gorge, natural food stores and vegetarian restaurants (even in the 80s!!) and dirty Ohio hippies playing Frisbee Golf… I live here now and the only dirty hippies I see are the wanna be’s who come to town on weekends because they think we are a hippie town, and other tourists come and think the town is full of hippies and take photos LOL! Last time I saw hippie type frisbee throwers were back in the late 70’s and most of them were either antioch students or visitors. It’s nowadays a thriving arts town, voted [top ten coolest small towns in America](http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2008/08/02/AR2008080201224.html)by Budget Travel, Best small town this year by Ohio Magazine. [Chamber of Commerce](http://www.yellowspringsohio.org/index.shtml) has the links. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-dave-chappelle/549365/36 "2010-08-07T18:18:31Z")
I think some of it may be biologically based mental issues, but IMO just from what I’ve seen and read over time of musicians, comedians, actors and other celebrities behaving erratically, the vast majority of this “crazy” behavior is simply due to chronic drug abuse. Unfortunately the majority of these reveals usually come out after the celebrity is dead, and their buddies and associates begin telling their tales of the departeds massive drug use. ---
**Author:** ![antia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee59a6/32.png) [@antia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antia)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-dave-chappelle/549365/37 "2010-08-07T18:39:04Z")
> [@astro](#): > > I think some of it may be biologically based mental issues, but IMO just from what I’ve seen and read over time of musicians, comedians, actors and other celebrities behaving erratically, the vast majority of this “crazy” behavior is simply due to chronic drug abuse. Unfortunately the majority of these reveals usually come out after the celebrity is dead, and their buddies and associates begin telling their tales of the departeds massive drug use. How would you know? Do you live here, hang out with his family, see him in town? You are not in a positon to presume his mental health. If this site is about fighting ignorance then may I suggest you and others here get their facts straight about Yellow Springs and not rely on unsubstantiated gossip for information about Dave Chapelle. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-dave-chappelle/549365/38 "2010-08-07T19:40:12Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > Utter rubbish. It’s as home-grown as anything else in that part of Ohio. What was meant (I believe) was what I stated earlier, viz.: This region of the state is overwhelmingly socially conservative. So to have a hippie utopia in the midst of said reactionary region is a bit out of the ordinary. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-dave-chappelle/549365/39 "2010-08-07T19:52:30Z")
> [@antia](#): > > > [@astro](#): > > > > I think some of it may be biologically based mental issues, but IMO just from what I’ve seen and read over time of musicians, comedians, actors and other celebrities behaving erratically, the vast majority of this “crazy” behavior is simply due to chronic drug abuse. Unfortunately the majority of these reveals usually come out after the celebrity is dead, and their buddies and associates begin telling their tales of the departeds massive drug use. > > How would you know? Do you live here, hang out with his family, see him in town? You are not in a positon to presume his mental health. > If this site is about fighting ignorance then may I suggest you and others here get their facts straight about Yellow Springs and not rely on unsubstantiated gossip for information about Dave Chapelle. In case you missed the Forum header descriptions this is not Great Debates or the General Questions Q&A section. This is an open _chat_ thread about opinions on what the hell happened to Dave Chappelle. Beyond Chappelle’s history of fairly bizarre behavior,[going up to a pilot and laying your hands on him](http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2010/07/04/2010-07-04_dave_chappelle_forces_pilot_to_land_private_jet_after_being_deemed_a_safety_risk.html)in the middle of a flight while making demands is not “quirky” or “offbeat”, _to me IMO_, it’s so far beyond rational behavior it’s something someone would do who is high as a kite on coke or something similar. > [@](#): > > Dave Chappelle is used to bring down the house, but this is something else entirely. > > A plane traveling from New Jersey to Ohio made an emergency landing Friday night after the comedian was deemed a safety risk, [TMZ.com](http://TMZ.com) reports. > > Chappelle reportedly refused to buckle his seat belt and repeatedly entered the cockpit during the flight. At one point, sources told the gossip Web site that the 36-year-old funnyman grabbed the pilot’s arms. > > The pilot diverted the jet to Pittsburgh after deciding Chappelle was a safety risk. > > According to the comedian’s rep, Chappelle had wanted to use the bathroom after eating something bad, but the toilet on board didn’t suit his needs. > > After landing in Pittsburgh, the former “Comedy Central” star reportedly checked into a hotel where he told employees he wanted to rent a car to drive back home to Ohio, but couldn’t remember his address ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-dave-chappelle/549365/40 "2010-08-07T19:59:43Z")
> [@antia](#): > > > [@astro](#): > > > > I think some of it may be biologically based mental issues, but IMO just from what I’ve seen and read over time of musicians, comedians, actors and other celebrities behaving erratically, the vast majority of this “crazy” behavior is simply due to chronic drug abuse. Unfortunately the majority of these reveals usually come out after the celebrity is dead, and their buddies and associates begin telling their tales of the departeds massive drug use. > > How would you know? Do you live here, hang out with his family, see him in town? You are not in a positon to presume his mental health. > If this site is about fighting ignorance then may I suggest you and others here get their facts straight about Yellow Springs and not rely on unsubstantiated gossip for information about Dave Chapelle. I miss Dave Chappelle and his work. It sounds like you know him or his family. I sure hope he creates more of his genius comedy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-dave-chappelle/549365.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-dave-chappelle/549365.md?page=3)