Dave Breaks Silence On ‘Chappelle’s Show’ Drama: “Technically, I Never Quit” [Video]

Written By S. Samuel

Television actor/comedian Dave Chappelle has finally come forward to speak out on making huge headlines in the mid-2000's by turning down $50 million to continue his successful "Chappelle's Show" series. #DaveSpeaks

1.7k Views Comments Off on Dave Breaks Silence On ‘Chappelle’s Show’ Drama: “Technically, I Never Quit” [Video]

Appearing on the “Late Show” Tuesday (June 10) night, Chappelle did not hold back on his reasoning.

“I don’t talk about it — technically, I never quit. I’m seven years late for work. It’s like getting divorced in the 50’s. People didn’t go to Divorce Court. They’d look at their wife like, ‘Baby, I’m going to get a pack of cigarettes, I’ll be right back.’ [laughs] … I look at it like this: I’m at a restaurant with my wife, it’s a nice restaurant and we’re eating dinner. I look across the room and say, ‘You see this guy across the room. He has $100 million dollars’, and we’re eating the same entree. Okay, fine, I don’t have $50 million dollars or whatever it was. Let’s say I have $10 million in the bank. The difference in lifestyle is miniscule. The only difference between having $10 million dollars and $50 million dollars is an astounding $40 million dollars.” (“The Late Show”)

A few years ago, Brooklyn rap veteran Talib Kweli spoke on Dave’s departure and dished on his personal life.

“I do shows with Dave and link up with Dave a few times during the year,” Kweli revealed in an interview. “We did a show at a comedy club. Black Star and Dave Chappelle — and it’s great because me and Mos [Def] come out and do 20 minutes, Dave does 20 minutes and then me and Mos come out. Dave is in a position where he does what he wants to do. He lives in Ohio on a farm. He has his Harley [Davidson motorcycle], he books little gigs whenever he feels like getting out and telling some jokes.” (XXL Mag)

In summer 2010, comedian JB Smoove talked to SOHH and shared his thoughts on Chappelle’s seclusion from stardom.

“I think we, as comics, have to evolve and keep up with the times. So for us and with Dave, when Dave with through that whole Comedy Central thing, I think he had to evolve. I think he didevolve and he ended up somewhere else that he didn’t want to be at. But a lot of comics like myself, man, I’m different. I’m a comic that’s pretty satisfied with the phones ringing with a steady flow of shows, steady flow of movies, steady flow of stuff. Some comics, they have bigger opportunities like the ‘Chappelle’s Show.’ The show was huge at that time, all that money and it makes you have to step back sometimes and release yourself and look at yourself and say, ‘Is this where I want to be as a comic? Is this who I am right now?'” (SOHH Guest Star)

After stopping his successful “Chappelle’s Show” after only two seasons on Comedy Central, the comedian later briefly explained his reasons for leaving the limelight.

“I would go to work on the show and I felt awful every day, that’s not the way it was. … I felt like some kind of prostitute or something. If I feel so bad, why keep on showing up to this place? I’m going to Africa. The hardest thing to do is to be true to yourself, especially when everybody is watching.” (Inside the Actors Studio)

#DaveSpeaks

Check out Dave Chappelle’s interview:

Comments Off on Dave Breaks Silence On ‘Chappelle’s Show’ Drama: “Technically, I Never Quit” [Video]

Written by S. Samuel

Steven Samuel is the co-founder of SOHH.com.

DJ Khaled Screams Conspiracy In Spurs/Heats Finals: “The Streets Is Saying They Cheated”

Aftermath Protégé Reveals What Dr. Dre Did After $3 Billion Deal