Chelsea Handler at 50: still jostled and dream of Margaritas

The actress Chelsea Handler is without excuse in her latest book, “I’m going to have what she has.” Well, of course, it is. She’s Chelsea Handler, and it’s always her thing.

There are a lot of stories you expect from the former host of the E! Show “Chelsea lately” in his seventh book, which was released last month, as to confront coarseness among men, shamelessly offering Andrew Cuomo for sex when he was governor of New York and ruthlessly pushing a trading partner for a lemonade stand. (She was 10 years old at the time.)

But Handler also weaves more life advice, a good dose of cheerleading (both for the reader and for herself) and the ideas taken from therapy and various breaks.

The book includes chapters on his very public relationship with the actor Jo Koy, but fans looking for the details of the breakup will be disappointed: she does not say much, and especially talks about Koy. A sign of growth, she said.

“Although I am sure that it interests people, I will no longer throw someone I loved in a bus,” writes Handler. “My sharing of what went wrong in our relationship would cancel all the work I did on myself while creating a title that I don’t want to create.”

The main dishes to remember: she is 50 years old. She shakes up. There is a special Netflix to come later this month and a residence in Las Vegas. And she is sure of herself. That’s all she needs, and she finally achieved it. In an interview, Handler discussed the new book and the Newish Chelsea.

This conversation has been slightly modified and condensed for more clarity.

You note that you essentially earn your life to be yourself. Does this mean that you are never out of the clock?

I don’t think it means I’m never out of the clock. It just means that I am never really authentic. And being able to make a living by expressing me and my real feelings look like a great victory.

How are you different now that when you have become famous for the first time?

Much less arrogant, much more grateful, much more aware of oneself. And I don’t complain about working hard anymore. I used to crash and burn and wanted to leave my job. Now, I understand how important the breaks are and that the breaks are as important as work.

In 2022, you said you would like to come back late at night. How do you think about it now?

I have never been presented with the right opportunity. I was really interested in doing “The Daily Show”, then it didn’t happen for me. So after that, I was just thinking, it is difficult to launch a show. I would love to do what Bill Maher does. Once a week. Or John Oliver. I think I have proven over and over again that it is my shooting and it is one of my strengths. But until I was presented with the right opportunity for that, I don’t really pursue this dream.

You have described your relationship with Jo Koy as a true love. Without going into details of the reason for which she ended, when she was at her best, how much did it make you rethink your position on marriage, if necessary?

I considered marriage several times in my life, including in this relationship. But the consideration of the marriage and the trove really of the trigger are two different things. I was proposed a few times, then I finished these relationships shortly after the proposal because I made: “Oh, we are not on the same wavelength.” He therefore brings consideration when you are deeply in love with someone. But that does not change my ideology on life.

In the book, you spent a little time talking about Andrew Cuomo, and you said you dodged a ball when he ghosts on your – Uh, let’s call that a proposal. As a person who was rather taken with him, what do you think of his attempt to return to New York and run for the mayor?

I mean, why not? He would probably be a great mayor and he hope that Donald Trump will resist Donald Trump. You know, unlike our current mayor in New York, Eric Adams. He was not a terrible governor. He was just a kind of old school, old -fashioned, was not really aware of how to treat people in an office, it looked like. And a little, you know, a predatory behavior.

Unfortunately, this predatory behavior was not directed even when asked. So I cannot speak for him in a professional environment, but I hope he received the strong and strong message, which I think he did. It was a fairly important cancellation, but I would support him in the race for the mayor.

Why is Andrew Cuomo capable of running again?

We are in a different situation, now that Trump is back to power. I think the cancellations will probably decline, if not already declined. I think their standards are lower than they have been in recent years. People can say it’s a good thing or it’s a bad thing. I don’t think that respecting people and respecting people’s limits is a bad thing. So I didn’t really have a problem with the cancellation of culture.

But conversely, I also think that nobody is inovericible and that everyone deserves a chance once they have admitted their reprehensible acts and have really applied remorse to the situation and have taken measures to prevent this from happening and learning what is appropriate and what is not, I think that everyone deserves a second chance.

Wait, wait. Maybe not everyone. But most people.

You said to the Guardian once you didn’t want to work all your life. That you wanted to live on an island and drink Margaritas all day at 40. How do you see work now?

I was very naive when I said that. I thought of this very quote – because I said it more than once – the other day, thinking: “Wow. I am 50 years old and I work harder and I jostle stronger than ever. But yes, I always feel the same. I would love going to live on an island and simply drink Margaritas forever, but it is really not in my nature. I am a scammer. I am very proud of my New Jersey Hustle.