Jon Chaffin Breaks Down Season 2 of 'Diarra From Detroit'

If you haven’t already watched, you have a little time to catch up on Diarra From Detroit. The show debuted on BET+ in 2024, but was initially unnoticed given its lack of an anchor talent and limited promotion.

Created by Detroit native Diarra Kilpatrick, it’s an urban take on classic comedy/dramas like Murder, She Wrote. Between the strong ensemble cast, including Phylicia Rashad and Morris Chestnut, the quirky storylines and the sharp writing from showrunner Kilpatrick, the show developed a cult following. It ultimately earned mainstream critical acclaim and a Season 2.

Kilpatrick plays the lead role as a Detroit schoolteacher who often finds herself in the midst of dangerous scenarios that her inquisitiveness generates. Blackish creator Kenya Barris signed on as executive producer.

Method Man, Nico Annan, Glynn Turman, Shoniqua Shondai and Amber Riley are among the guest stars on Season 2.

Actor John Chaffin is a familiar face to fans of The Haves and The Have Nots and BMF. He was part of the ensemble for Diarra From Detroit, playing Danger, Diarra’s friend and sneaky link. In real life, he’s a married father of a son. We caught up with him to find out more about Season 2 and his career so far.

Cassius: You’re back for season two of Diarra From Detroit. What did you enjoy most about working on the show, and what can we expect this season?

Jon Chaffin: What I enjoyed most was the cast. We really became like a family off camera, and I think that connection shows on screen. Playing Danger has also been a real gift because he’s such a layered character—there’s so much going on beneath the surface.

This season, he’s on a journey of self-discovery. I can’t give too much away, but it really digs into who he is at his core.

Cassius: For viewers just catching up, who is Danger, and where do we find him in Season 2?

Jon Chaffin: Danger is from Diarra’s neighborhood—he’s the guy who can get anything done, a hustler, a leader. But in season one, we learn he’s been living under a major lie. He believed he committed a terrible crime as a child, only to discover that someone he trusted manipulated him to keep control over his life.

Season two picks up four months later. Now he’s trying to figure out who he really is. When everything you believe about yourself turns out to be false, you have to rebuild from the ground up—and that’s where we meet him.

Cassius: What did playing that kind of character teach you?

Jon Chaffin: Empathy. It made me realize how easily any of us could end up in different circumstances if life had gone another way. I take playing Danger seriously because I’m representing people whose lives might mirror his in some way.

It also gave me the chance to show that Black men are multifaceted. Danger can be tough and protective, but also vulnerable and searching. He’s all of those things at once.

Cassius: How do you prepare for a role like that?

Jon Chaffin: It starts with understanding his circumstances and his backstory—what he wants, what’s driving him. I realized Danger is a broken soul who’s built this tough exterior to protect the hurt inside. When you tap into that vulnerability, that’s where the strength shows up.

Cassius: The show is rooted in Detroit. How did that influence your performance?

Jon Chaffin: We actually filmed in Atlanta, but there are a lot of cultural similarities. When I researched the character, I talked to people who knew that environment, and they told me I had the movement, the speech, the energy right. We wanted to honor Detroit authentically, and I think we did.

Cassius: Atlanta is your hometown. How has it shaped you?

Jon Chaffin: It’s in everything I do—the way I move, the way I speak. Atlanta has deep roots in civil rights history, so there’s a certain awareness and presence that comes with that. It definitely influences my work.

Cassius: Acting isn’t always the most stable career path. How did you navigate that decision?

Jon Chaffin: I started behind the scenes in production because I didn’t have a roadmap into acting. I studied Mass Communications at Fort Valley State University, then worked my way in.

My family supported me, but they wanted something more stable at first. Once they saw I was serious—taking classes, booking work—they got behind me.

It’s not easy, but it’s what I’m meant to do.

Cassius: You’ve worked consistently over the past decade, but what’s your approach to handling the ups and downs of a working actor?

Jon Chaffin: Save your money. When things are good, put something away because there will be lean times.

I’ve had a lot of different jobs over the years, but acting is the one thing that comes naturally to me. The jobs don’t come easy, but the work does.

And I believe that if something is truly meant for you, it won’t be taken away. You just have to stay committed.

Cassius: It takes a lot of discipline to be successful as a Black creative. Where does that come from?

Jon Chaffin: From my father and from life. My dad worked with his hands and built things from the ground up. I saw that work ethic.

As an adult, discipline also comes from not wanting to struggle. You keep showing up, and eventually a door opens. And even when you fall, those aren’t mistakes—they’re lessons.

Cassius: You’ve worked on both mainstream and predominantly Black productions. What differences have you noticed?

Jon Chaffin: The biggest difference is resources. But on Black sets, there’s an understanding—you don’t have to explain everything. There’s a shared experience.

We also know we have to bring our best because opportunities haven’t always come easy. And when we show up, we bring our own energy and perspective to the work.

Cassius: Finally, why should people watch Diarra From Detroit?

Jon Chaffin: Because it’s something different. It’s like Nancy Drew meets Murder, She Wrote, but through the lens of a Black woman who is complex, funny, and unpredictable.

It’s comedy, drama, mystery, all wrapped into one. And season two raises the stakes—it’s bigger, more adventurous.

If you haven’t seen it yet, start with season one so you can really invest in the characters—then get ready for the ride.

Watch an interview with Diarra Kilpatrick below: