# What was the problem with Dave Chappelle? Why did he walk away from his show?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-problem-with-dave-chappelle-why-did-he-walk-away-from-his-show/318964>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [August 28, 2005, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-problem-with-dave-chappelle-why-did-he-walk-away-from-his-show/318964 "2005-08-28T10:24:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-problem-with-dave-chappelle-why-did-he-walk-away-from-his-show/318964/1 "2005-08-28T10:24:53Z")

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Why did he walk away from his show as it’s popularity was reaching new heights?

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**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-problem-with-dave-chappelle-why-did-he-walk-away-from-his-show/318964/2 "2005-08-28T10:51:17Z")

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I think, for certain artists, that while it’s certainly gratifying to have swift, unexpected critical and audience success beyond your wildest dreams when you try a new medium – it’s another sobering, unsettling proposition to deal with the unending pressure of tring to stay so insightful, hip, relevant, edgy, “the best”, and to keep up that quality to your own satisfaction week after week

I don’t believe Chapelle ever regrouped from his show’s meteoric rise in popularity from midseason two. All things considered it’s as graceful way out as can be expected… leaving at the height of popularity.  
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