Full story is in
Entertainment Weekly;
the announcement is about a half-hour old.
The Associated Press
Updated: 7:05 p.m. ET May 11, 2005
NEW YORK - Comedy Central star Dave Chappelle has checked himself into a mental health facility in South Africa, the magazine Entertainment Weekly reported on Wednesday.
The comedian's whereabouts and condition have been unknown since Comedy Central abruptly announced last week that the planned May 31 launch of the third season of "Chappelle's Show" had been postponed and production halted.
Chappelle flew from Newark, N.J., to South Africa on April 28 for treatment, said the magazine, quoting a source close to the show it would not identify. Entertainment Weekly said it had corroborating sources for its story.
They are saying it isn't substance abuse, but it definitely is the pressure.
Chappelle reportedly signed a $50 million deal with Comedy Central for two more seasons of his show, a payday made possible because of the explosive sales of the show's first season DVD.
The pressure may have occasioned some kind of breakdown. At least he's is going in for help. Imploding like Richard Pryor has been a warning for a lot of stand-up comedians.
[Entertainment Weekly] said Chappelle had shot four to five episodes' worth of sketches for the new season, but none of its onstage introductions.
I've only seen a few of his shows. No matter. I'd like to see him come back. We need to laugh in these fractious times.