# What's up with Dave Chapelle? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 14, 2005, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-dave-chapelle/303841 "2005-05-14T17:44:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-dave-chapelle/303841/1 "2005-05-14T17:44:18Z")
I guess some time late last month he flew off to South Africa and checked himself into a mental hospital, where reportedly he’s still residing. I know nothing more, nor did I have any idea he was having emotional and/or psychological problems. His agent says drugs are not a factor, though that could easily be a distortion or outright lie. All I really know of Chapelle is his brilliant comedy, and it saddens me that his show may be in jeopardy. Anybody know more? ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-dave-chapelle/303841/2 "2005-05-14T17:52:21Z")
Abuse of the cigaweed. ---
**Author:** ![remisser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b3f665/32.png) [@remisser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/remisser)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-dave-chapelle/303841/3 "2005-05-14T17:57:05Z")
as Howard Stern said, he’s met dave many times, and the most recent time he seemed kind of freaked out at all the attention he was getting. He was always kind of comfortable being the fringe type of comedian who did well, but wasn’t so successful that the spotlight was constantly on him. A few of his comedian friends believe he asked some kind of ridiculous figure (50 million) to do more seasons of chappelle show and expected them to balk at the figure so he wouldn’t have the pressure of doing more of it. They surprised him by accepting the figure, and basically… he just had a breakdown from all the pressure and being under the spotlight. He doesn’t really like all the attention, and he’s afraid of letting everyone down. ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-dave-chapelle/303841/4 "2005-05-14T20:54:35Z")
Get well soon, Mr. Chappelle. Also, I hope you get some new material out of this. I’m CRAZY, bitch! ---
**Author:** ![Gerome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@Gerome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gerome)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-dave-chapelle/303841/5 "2005-05-15T04:38:36Z")
> [@remisser](#): > > A few of his comedian friends believe he asked some kind of ridiculous figure (50 million) to do more seasons of chappelle show and expected them to balk at the figure so he wouldn’t have the pressure of doing more of it. They surprised him by accepting the figure, and basically… he just had a breakdown from all the pressure and being under the spotlight. He doesn’t really like all the attention, and he’s afraid of letting everyone down. I can understand that - if you’re getting paid fifty million to be funny, and then you’re insecure about your skills at being funny, that’s going to mess you up pretty badly. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-dave-chapelle/303841/6 "2005-05-15T05:09:00Z")
I don’t remember the gentleman’s name, but the guy who did most of the writing for _The Goon Show_ used to check into the hospital between seasons and have the doctors put him in a coma for a few days, so he wouldn’t have to think. I’m not really a fan of his show (though, I do like some of the bits I’ve seen), but I hate to see anyone crack up. ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-dave-chapelle/303841/7 "2005-05-15T05:10:24Z")
In light of the Runaway Bride brouhaha, it can’t be bad for ratings. ---
**Author:** ![ZeroGyro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47774/32.png) [@ZeroGyro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZeroGyro)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-dave-chapelle/303841/8 "2005-05-15T05:11:39Z")
From the Drudge Report: > [@](#): > > “I figured, Let me just cut myself off from everybody, take a minute and pull a Flintstone-stop a speeding car by using my feet as the brakes. I am surprised at what I would do for $50 million. I am surprised at what people around me would do for me to have $50 million,” Dave Chappelle tells TIME’s Christopher John Farley in an exclusive interview. > > CHAPPELLE tells TIME he’s not in mental hospital or drug rehab, debunking earlier reports in ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY and elsewhere. [Here](http://www.drudgereport.com/flash1.htm) is the link. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-dave-chapelle/303841/9 "2005-05-15T05:26:45Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > I don’t remember the gentleman’s name, but the guy who did most of the writing for _The Goon Show_ used to check into the hospital between seasons and have the doctors put him in a coma for a few days, so he wouldn’t have to think. I’m not really a fan of his show (though, I do like some of the bits I’ve seen), but I hate to see anyone crack up. That would be Spike Milligan. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-dave-chapelle/303841/10 "2005-05-15T05:33:45Z")
Then again, there was a lot of talk about Season 2 right? Didnt Chapelle want more money or something? To me it seems he has made moves similar to someone trying to milk the situation of famousity (?) to the limits. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-dave-chapelle/303841/11 "2005-05-15T05:37:58Z")
I heard he’s sharing an apartment with Joe Pesci and Osama bin Laden. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-dave-chapelle/303841/12 "2005-05-15T15:07:39Z")
Well, glad to hear he’s not pulling a Margot Kidder, or a Robert Downey Jr. All the same, it’s rather odd behavior. Then again, being a comedy superstar must be a rather odd life. ---
**Author:** ![chefjef](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e480ec/32.png) [@chefjef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chefjef)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-dave-chapelle/303841/13 "2005-05-15T16:39:12Z")
It’s very odd behavior - but I didn’t flinch when I read this is all a publicity stunt - he’s a weird dude! ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-dave-chapelle/303841/14 "2005-05-15T17:18:52Z")
> [@chefjef](#): > > It’s very odd behavior - but I didn’t flinch when I read this is all a publicity stunt - he’s a weird dude! “NO, I CAN’T STOP YELLING, 'CAUSE THAT’S HOW I TALK! HAVEN’T YOU SEEN MY MOVIES? ‘JUICE’, THAT WAS A GOOD ONE! DEEP BLUE SEA! THEY ATE ME! A MOTHER (beep)ING SHARK ATE ME! DRINK UP, BITCH!” ---
**Author:** ![Khampelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-dave-chapelle/303841/15 "2005-05-15T21:12:25Z")
What I read in the newspaper today was, he is in S. Africa, but not in an institution, staying with friends. He did, however, see a psychiatrist or counselor of some description for a 40 min visit. He blames the pressures of fame, and having people constantly tell him he’s a genius, and not being sure who to believe. I can believe it, but not relate, if you know what I mean. ---
**Author:** ![La\_Llorona](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@La\_Llorona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/La_Llorona)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-dave-chapelle/303841/16 "2005-05-15T23:03:10Z")
How much money d’you want to bet that the guy has people coming up to him in droves on the street and shouting, “I’m Rick James!” It’s enough to make anyone a little nervy… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-dave-chapelle/303841/17 "2005-05-15T23:06:12Z")
> [@La Llorona](#): > > How much money d’you want to bet that the guy has people coming up to him in droves on the street and shouting, “I’m Rick James!” > > It’s enough to make anyone a little nervy… > > 🙂 He mentioned this in interviews. While I hope he gets things together, he’s gonna have to put up with it or get out of the biz. ---
**Author:** ![chefjef](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e480ec/32.png) [@chefjef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chefjef)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-dave-chapelle/303841/18 "2005-05-15T23:14:04Z")
Good point - but I really can’t figure the dude out. Strange as hell. I will say, his show is funny as all get-out - and I was psyched for a new season. Little disspointed there… ---
**Author:** ![La\_Llorona](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@La\_Llorona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/La_Llorona)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-dave-chapelle/303841/19 "2005-05-16T02:13:06Z")
An update…hmm. [http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1061415,00.html](http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1061415,00.html) ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2005, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-dave-chapelle/303841/20 "2005-05-16T02:43:38Z")
Thank you for that link. That’s about the most level-headed thing I’ve ever read. I’m so glad Dave is recognizing the need to get some time alone and come tor grips with his creative process. I love the fact that he said that when it comes to racial aspect of his material he wants to make sure he’s dancing and not shuffling. Damn I liked that, says a lot about the integrity of his show – and his showmanship. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-dave-chapelle/303841.md?page=2)