Dave Chappelle’s $50M Walkout Revisited: What Really Happened

Dave Chappelle’s third season of his iconic Comedy Central show from 2006 is back in the spotlight, reigniting discussions about his decision to walk away from a $50 million contract at the peak of his career. PARIS, FRANCE – JANUARY 21: Dave Chappelle attends the Dior Homme Fall/Winter 2022/2023 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 21, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pierre Suu/Getty Images) Saying Goodbye to His Show Chappelle hosted “Saturday Night Live” for the fourth time on Jan. 18, where his opening monologue briefly reflected on his sudden exit from the show’s production and his decision to retreat to South Africa. In 2006 most people had no idea what had happened and were wondering where in the world was Chappelle. He had seemingly disappeared, leaving his family and the show behind. After some time he made it be known he was solo in South Africa. Just days before Chappelle’s “SNL” appearance, his longtime friend and “Chappelle’s Show” co-star Donnell Rawlings opened up about the infamous breakdown in the Jan. 16 episode of Shannon Sharpe’s “Club Shay Shay” podcast, offering an insider’s perspective on the events that led to Chappelle’s infamous departure. “Chappelle’s Show,” launched...