Just a little while ago, we shared some updates and information on the unfortunate feuding situation between Community creator Dan Harmon and star Chevy Chase. Harmon addressed the matter on his blog today, and has apologized to fans over the situation.
The now publicized squabble between Chase and Harmon, which reportedly involves Chase walking off set on the last day of shooting, a “Fuck you” speech to Chase from Harmon at the wrap party, and then an angry voicemail from Chase in response, which Harmon played at a public event (and has since made its way online), puts fans in an uncomfortable position. Speaking for myself anyway, I have zero interest in choosing a side between Chase or Harmon as I’m a fan of both. Perhaps I’m not alone there as Harmon addressed fans’ discomfort over the situation on his blog. The post is pretty lengthy, so if you’re invested in the matter, I recommend heading on over there to read it in its entirety.
Much of what he addresses involves his belief that he’s a “bonehead,” and being especially apologetic toward the fans of the series...
“When that’s not happening, when I’ve done something that hurts an audience, it’s always an accident. So I have to just acknowledge my mistake and apologize for it to the fans. Even the people that hate the show that are tweeting heckles at me are right, I’m a selfish baby and a rude asshole and not a person to trust with your feelings.”
On the matter of Chase, he makes no direct apologies, nor does he really discuss the issues he may or may not have with the actor. But he does open up about his decision to share the voicemail Chase left for him to the audience at the monthly show he does in the back of a comic book store in Los Angeles (though he never actually mentions Chase by name)...
It was in that venue, months ago, that I made the horrible, childish, self-obsessed, unaware, naive and unprofessional decision to play someone’s voicemail to me. He didn’t intend for 150 people to listen and giggle at it, and I didn’t intend for millions of people to read angry reports about it. I was doing what I always do, and always get in trouble for doing, and always pay a steep price for doing. I was thinking about myself and I was thinking about making people laugh. I was airing my dirty laundry for a chuckle. I ask people at those shows repeatedly to please think twice about youtubing clips of it because it doesn’t play well outside the back of a comic book store. I always accept the risk that a well-intending fan will upload clips and something scandalous will break wide, but the giant mistake I made was involving someone else in that game of russian roulette, someone that didn’t have an opportunity to say “yeah, hilarious, let’s do this.” That was a dumb, unclassy, inconsiderate move on my part. I’m very sorry it’s reflecting poorly on the show.
Harmon later goes on to say he’ll probably be politely scolded for commenting on the situation in the first place, but his candidness is likely appreciated by those of us who really hope this situation gets straightened out. Maybe I’m just an optimist, I really want to believe they’ll eventually be able to step back from the situation, see that it got out of hand and move forward... hopefully toward Season 4.
Six seasons and a movie...
Read Harmon’s full post here
