NEW YORK (AP) — Comedy Central star Dave Chappelle has checked himself into a mental health facility in South Africa, the magazine Entertainment Weekly reported on Wednesday.

"It isn't a case of him spending a weekend someplace recuperating from exhaustion," an EW editor says of Chappelle's problems.
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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.

"We don't know where he is," Comedy Central spokesman Tony Fox said. "We've heard about South Africa. We don't know. We haven't talked to Dave."

Chappelle's spokesman, Matt Labov, would not comment on the magazine's story.

"It seems like the issues he's contending with are really quite serious," said Dade Hayes, a senior editor at Entertainment Weekly. "It isn't a case of him spending a weekend someplace recuperating from exhaustion."

The magazine's sources say Chappelle is still in the facility, which was not named, Hayes said. Chappelle's representatives have denied that the comedian was abusing drugs.

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 magazine said Chappelle had shot four to five episodes' worth of sketches for the new season, but none of its onstage introductions.

I just can't help but think that this all might be some sort of media stunt. But if it isn't, then I hope he's cool...um...bitch.

"dave hoes, hoes dave"

"good evening bitches!"

holy shit, south africa?

Damn....Why do things like this always have to happen to good people....Why can't bush or cheney go crazy ????

you think that they haven't?

yeah henry kissinger's a nutjob

Yeah, that story reeks of boogommgoo......

You are correct sir...

"Cocaine's a helluva drug!"

but srsly imagine the sketches that could come out of this

so much potential,

Oh, we in S. Africa, oh dey got dat crazy wizard shit!! Oh, now we in dat "Mekal Healf Facility"

"MY SKIN, IT BURNING!!"

Chris, I'll put a case of wine on him doing a sketch with "dem bones" and/or burning skin this season

maybe he's looking for some of his friends there.

maybe he's looking for some of his enemies there

He's in a mental hospital & you guys are cracking jokes

With fans like you no wonder he ended up were he did

....then, as Charlie Murphy's substituting the monologue an off-stage projection screen fizzes to life as if Dave is transmitting via satellite.

CHAPELLE: "DAMNNN! What have you done to my show MAN? IT'S MY SHOW!"

But behind Dave are about twenty men and women doing drugs, compliments of Dave.

MURPHY: "I thought you were supposed to be cleaning your act up man?"

CHAPELLE: "I was...but the reefer's greener here in the mother land my friend. Ha, ha, ha...."

MURPHY: "Well you let a lot of people down man....your fans were expectin' you to kick off the thrid season."

CHAPELLE: "What are you talkin' about....I'm still going to kick it off."

MURPHY: "From Africa?"

CHAPELLE: "Yeah. Check this out."

Then we see an awesome sketch with Dave's trip to Africa....

Get over yourself

if there's one thing dave chapelle hates, it's joking about someone's pain

Seconded