Chevy Chase finds himself once again at the center of controversy, this time thanks to a viral moment from his own documentary. The 82-year-old “Saturday Night Live” alum is facing new backlash after a clip from “I’m Chevy Chase, and You’re Not” began circulating online, showing the actor lashing out at the film’s director, Marina Zenovich, in a way that many viewers say is rude, dismissive and symbolic of his long-criticized behavior. The documentary, which aims to re-examine Chase’s career and rehabilitate his public image by exploring the struggles behind his explosive reputation, may have reignited the very criticism it hoped to alleviate.
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Chevrolet Chase under fire for criticizing female director
In the now-viral exchange, Zenovich tells Chase on camera that she’s trying to “figure him out.” Rather than engage in introspection, Chase immediately retaliates. “No, shit, it’s not going to be easy for you,” he replies.
When Zenovich calmly asks why, Chase responds the line that sent viewers into a frenzy, saying, “You’re not bright enough. What do you mean?” The comment, delivered bluntly and without hesitation, left many viewers stunned and, to longtime critics, unsurprising.
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Chase faces renewed heat
Once the footage hit X (formerly Twitter), reactions poured in almost instantly, with many users saying the moment perfectly summed up Chase’s long-standing reputation.
“He’s spent his entire career being an asshole. No surprises,” one user wrote. Another added: “He’s a born and rich asshole. He’s been in some good and beloved movies. That’s all.”
Others linked the exchange to Chase’s widely discussed absence from the “SNL” 50th anniversary celebration. “I find it hilarious how he has ‘no idea’ why he wasn’t invited to the ‘SNL’ 50th celebration,” one post read. “It’s because you’re an asshole and no one likes you. Remember?”
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Other comments cut to the point, with some saying, “Just stop being an asshole to people. Is it that hard?” and “For years people said this man was an absolute asshole. I see that now lol.”
Watch the video here.
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Inside “I’m Chevy Chase, and You’re Not”
Directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker Marina Zenovich, known for acclaimed projects like “Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired” and “Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind,” the documentary brings together candid interviews and archival footage, with first-hand accounts.
The film features interviews with Chase, members of his family and a number of colleagues throughout his decades-long career. It charts his meteoric rise as one of comedy’s biggest stars in the 1970s and ’80s, from “Saturday Night Live” and “National Lampoon” to iconic films like “Caddyshack” and “National Lampoon’s Vacation.”
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The Terry Sweeney controversy resurfaces
“I’m Chevy Chase, and You’re Not” also reopens one of the most controversial chapters of Chase’s “Saturday Night Live” years, centering on Terry Sweeney, who joined the cast during the 1985-86 season as the show’s first openly gay cast member.
The film revisits Sweeney’s account of an AIDS-related joke that Chase allegedly came up with at the time, an incident that has circulated in comedy circles for decades. Director Marina Zenovich tells Chase the story on camera, taken directly from “Live From New York: The Complete, Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live,” where Sweeney previously detailed the encounter.
According to Sweeney’s recollection, Chase suggested a skit that made fun of and specifically targeted the AIDS epidemic. In the documentary, Chase disputes this version of events, saying he does not remember the incident as described.
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Terry Sweeney responds after Chevy Chase’s comments on ‘SNL’ spark new scrutiny
However, the moment takes on new weight when Chase makes an inaccurate remark about Sweeney during the conversation. After details of the documentary became public, Sweeney responded, telling The Hollywood Reporter that Chase’s comments were offensive and factually incorrect, reigniting scrutiny of Chase’s behavior during his time on “SNL.”
The documentary also addresses Chase’s visible frustration over his past use of the N-word on the set of “Community” being leaked, with an eyewitness recounting how angry he became when the incident resurfaced.
The film is available for live streaming through services that stream CNN, including DirecTV, Sling and Hulu + Live TV, with some platforms offering limited free trials allowing viewers to watch the premiere at no cost.
