Chevy Chase Faces Renewed Criticism After Snapping At Director

Chevy Chase is once again finding himself 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 renewed backlash after a clip from “I’m Chevy Chase, And You’re Not” began circulating online, showing the actor snapping at the film’s director, Marina Zenovich, in a way many viewers are calling rude, dismissive, and symbolic of his long-criticized behavior. The documentary, which aims to reexamine Chase’s career and rehabilitate his public image by exploring the struggles behind his explosive reputation, may have instead reignited the very criticisms it hoped to soften.

In the now-viral exchange, Zenovich tells Chase on camera that she’s trying to “figure him out.” Rather than leaning into the introspection, Chase immediately fires back. “No sh-t, it’s not going to be easy for you,” he responds.

When Zenovich calmly asks why, Chase delivers the line that sent viewers into a frenzy, saying, “You’re not bright enough. How’s that?” The comment, delivered bluntly and without hesitation, left many viewers stunned, and for longtime critics, unsurprised.

Once the footage made its way onto X (formerly Twitter), reactions poured in almost instantly, with many users arguing that the moment perfectly encapsulated Chase’s long-standing reputation.

“He made a whole career of being an a-shole. No surprises,” one user wrote. Another added, “He’s a born rich piece of sh-t. He was in some good/loved movies. That’s all there is.”

Others connected the exchange to Chase’s widely discussed absence from “SNL”’s 50th anniversary celebration. “I think it’s hilarious how he has ‘no idea’ why he wasn’t invited to ‘SNL’’s 50-year celebration,” one post read. “It’s because you’re an as-hole and no one likes you. Remember?”

Still more comments cut straight to the point, with some saying, “Just stop being a prick to people. Is it that hard?” and “People for years said this man was an absolute a-shole. I see that now lol.”

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 firsthand accounts.

The film features interviews with Chase, members of his family, and a range of colleagues spanning his decades-long career. It traces his meteoric rise as one of comedy’s biggest stars in the 1970s and 1980s, from “Saturday Night Live” and “National Lampoon” to iconic films like “Caddyshack” and “National Lampoon’s Vacation.”

“I’m Chevy Chase, and You’re Not” also reopens one of the most controversial chapters from 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 Chase allegedly proposed at the time, an incident that has circulated in comedy circles for decades. Director Marina Zenovich recounts the story to Chase on camera, pulling 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 sketch that mocked the AIDS epidemic and specifically targeted him. In the documentary, Chase disputes that version of events, saying he does not remember the incident as described.

However, the moment takes on new weight when Chase makes an inaccurate remark about Sweeney during the conversation. After details from the documentary became public, Sweeney responded, telling The Hollywood Reporter that Chase’s comments were offensive and factually incorrect, reigniting scrutiny around Chase’s behavior during his time at “SNL.”

The documentary also addresses Chase’s visible frustration over the leak of his past use of the N-word on the set of “Community,” with an eyewitness recounting how angry he became when the incident resurfaced.

The film is available to stream live through services that carry CNN, including DirecTV, Sling, and Hulu + Live TV, with some platforms offering limited free trials that allow viewers to watch the premiere at no cost.