Chet Clancy

Chet Clancy is an ex-Olympian hunk who catches Brooke Thompson's eye at Camp Redwood. He is a character in 1984 portrayed by Gus Kenworthy.

Background[]

Despite his physique and commitment, Chet is an athlete whose disqualification from the Olympics prior to his drugs and drinking habits has left him petty with anger issues. His family and backstory is otherwise unknown.

Personality and Appearance[]

Chet is egotistical of his muscular appearance, often boasting of his dedication and athletic background. He exceedingly abuses drugs and encourages his peers to take drugs as well. His rejection at the Olympics devastated Chet, ultimately causing him to brew up rage issues and kicking off fights with others. Despite this, he appears vulnerable and charming around Brooke Thompson. And he tries to remain loyal to the group as well.

He is generally charismatic and curious. He is shown to enjoy the music and culture of the 80’s, including movies and dancing as well. Chet is shown to have shark remarks and a more logical side when approached with situations that doesn’t normally make sense or feel right to him. He can be sarcastic and goofy, often bragging about his figure and keeping up his masculinity.

Story[]

Chet is first seen at Xavier's aerobics class where he instantly has a liking for Brooke. They head up to Redwood for the summer, where Chet is seen doing drugs with the group and showing off playfully. They hit a guy on the road, to which they all freak out at first and they take him with them. Margaret gives them a tour and they later sit by the campfire learning about Richter. The group follows Brooke into a cabin to see the hiker dead but he isn't there and they don't believe her. The group later watches the Olympics. Chet hurts Ray's hand and Chet apologizes but Ray doesn't care.

Chet is along with the boys when they go take showers and they later find Blake's body and they go to leave in the van but they crash it thanks to Rita. Chet is shown to be shocked and disgusted by the sight. They split up to go get the keys. Chet, Brooke, Rita, and Ray go in a cabin and they are attacked by Ramirez. He is frightened at it all.

The group leaves after Ramirez breaks in and Chet saves Ray, even though he could have gotten out a lot faster. Later in the night, Chet and Ray fall in a pit and Chet is severely hurt. He talks about how the pit could be like something Mr. Jingles knew of in war. Ray explains his past and he leaves Chet to die. Chet swears to him that he won’t tell anyone and pleads and cries to not be left alone to die. He continues crying out for help until Xavier and Trevor find Chet and they save him. He admits that Ray did leave him and that he is more messed up than they know. They take him into a cabin but he almost dies and Trevor brings him back to health with an adrenaline rush. This initially doesn’t work but soon he is shocked back to life, after almost dying.

Chet later is among the group to see Blake's car ablaze and Xavier have a panic attack. Margaret knocks him out and they take him into a cabin. Montana suggests Chet be the one to join Margaret at the lake so the two ride in a boat in the lake to go find help but Margaret kills him. She first asks if he thinks about death, to which he explains his thoughts down in the pit. She assures him if he “follows god” he would not have that fear and then goes to admit her true motives. She hits him over the head, slicing off his ear and tying his legs to an anchor.

Later at Margaret's festival opening, Chet goes to kill her but Montana talks him out of it. He has been holding a lot of anger towards her for what she did. He is seen with the group throughout the episodes, there when group decisions are made. He carries a knife with him, and originally seeks revenge on Mr. Jingles as well, but eventually plans change and Chet goes along with it.

Benjamin goes to Redwood and the ghosts talk to him about Lavinia and Benjamin tells them about her.

Benjamin comes back again and the ghosts explain how they feel. Chet is seen in a flashback killing Margaret and Rameriez. He gets a thrill out of gaining revenge. He is later seen alongside Ray killing Richard, the two high five over the kill and it seen they have mended things since Ray left him to die, or at least bonded enough for the time being.

One night, Chet and Bertie watch Ramirez and they play a game of cards where the loser must strip. Bertie jokingly suggests Chet give a chance on someone older and more experienced, and admits she knows that he “swings both ways”, he asks how she knows this and she admits that she is aware he sleeps with everyone. He just shrugs it off as him being an “equal opportunity lover. The two begin to kiss and Ramirez comes back, remarking how he opened Pandora’s box but the ghosts kill him again. Chet participated in the decapitation of Margaret, throwing her limbs to get her off the grounds. Chet is last seen awaiting his turn to kill Margaret in the afterlife for the rest of time.

Quotes[]

Chet: "Ray's a choad. He left me to die. The cops are looking for him. He told me he killed someone in college."

Notes[]

He is the first, and until now the only, character portrayed by Gus Kenworthy in American Horror Story.
The official description reads, "Brooke's midriff-baring boyfriend Chet Clancy."^[1] However, Chet and Brooke do not share a relationship beyond friendship and a possible mutual attraction in the final cut of the season, thus never taking on a romantic relationship as initially indicated.
It is implied by Margaret in the fifth episode that Chet is actually gay. He is revealed to be bisexual in the season finale after Bertie mentions that she knows he "swings both ways", and Chet replies that he is "an equal opportunity ghost". This could be a nod to the actor who portrays Chet, Olympic skiier Gus Kenworthy, who although not bisexual, is gay in real life.
Although Bertie claims that Chet slept with the ghosts of everyone in the camp after his own death and entrapment there, it is unknown with whom Chet specifically had sexual relations with, leaving what characteristics he finds to be sexually attractive in men and women ambiguous. It is unknown if Chet has a "type", such as those of similar athletic prowess as himself (as in the case of Brooke Thompson), or if he will have sex with anyone.
Chet and Trevor are the only main characters not to have a backstory shown through flashbacks.