So the 3rd season of the Chappelle Show is about to appear on Comedy Central. Of the 10 episodes for the season, only 3 are available. And once again all the drama of what Mr. Dave Chappelle did or didn’t do is abounding. Comedy Central is trying to move past the hoopla, while simultaneously courting Mr. Chappelle and rebuking his claims. According to mainstream media there just isn’t any reason known why he left.
Of course in this instance the media is trying to slide past the fact that Mr. Chappelle has in fact stated his reasons. He made some observations when he appeared on Oprah, and point blank made statements about the entire situation on The Actor’s Studio. I was awed to an extent by the honesty and intensity of that conversation. It affected how I make posts on this site. You can see my full comments at What Dave Chappelle and James Lipton gave me. Suffice to say the ultimate reason given by Mr. Chappelle was that $50 million was still too cheap for soul. Creatively or otherwise. I don’t think anyone watching this would have a problem coming to that conclusion.
Well, except the media and Comedy Central. Both seem to be lost on what motivated the abrupt end to the taping of cable television show. I for one stand by the answers provided by the man himself. He made a great observation on how the Hollywood system tries the integrity and soul of the entertainers in it. How many entertainers, in various genres, have been known to suddenly act in an aberrant and/or illogical manner because of the pressure. I would truely have been sad if Mr. Chappelle had reacted as Mr. Freddy Prinze did. And how many more have been chewed up and spit out. I recall a movie starring Ms. Angelina Jolie as the supermodel Gia.
I’ve said it before, go to the source. There was no mental instability. There was no drug induced flight. Perhaps many people think the amount of money offered was enough. I have dealt with many people of considerable wealth. Several were worth the same, or more, than the contract Mr. Chappelle received. Wealth of such an extreme amount does not bring happiness, not if it has ties to unhappiness like stress or restrictions in life. Many of the problems the average person has are the same as those of the wealth. And often there are new problems too. Entertainers have the added pressure of loss of annonimity, limited expression - especially in their art [typecasting which I have been guilty of doing from time to time], extreme expectations, constant judgements and heightened fear for the well-being of their families.
Yes, part of the job is dealing with those factors. Such is the nature of the world today. But when someone says that it isn’t worth it anymore, I understand. When I first started working as a stockbroker I observed that after roughly a decade every broker I knew had a physical or mental ailment/addiction. I decided then that my health and well-being is worth more than the money. About 10 years later I had to make that choice, and thus I now work in a related field. I didn’t have the pressure Mr. Chappelle had, but I understand it. I didn’t make what Mr. Chappelle could, but I earned substantial amounts. And if the amount was 10x as much I still would have done the same thing. My principles and health cannot be bought. Neither could Dave Chappelle’s. Consider that the next time the media, or a cable television network, says they are lost as to why someone makes a decision they don’t like.
This is what I think, what do you think?
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