Inside Chelsea Handler's Life Lately: Her Career, New Romance and Status With Ex Jo Koy

Not that she's looking to have another romance as public as her nearly year-long relationship with fellow comic Jo Koy.

Revealing to Alex Cooper on a February episode of Call Her Daddy that she had a significant other, Chelsea declined to kiss and tell.

"I’ve been down that road before with having a public relationship, my last relationship,” she explained. Not that she’s opposed to having people know about her love life. "No, it’s not that," she noted. "It’s more out of respect for their privacy, you know what I mean? I don’t want him to have to be exposed to my world."

Still, Chelsea was willing to spill some tea—sharing she met her mystery man "a long time ago," but that they "didn’t really become lovers until about six or seven months ago." (And, no, it wasn't Ralph Fiennes, her Oscars night party pal.)

"I’ve known him for years," she said of her paramour. "I’ve always been attracted to him, but he was not available. And I always have wanted someone like him in my life. He’s hot, he’s awesome, he’s sweet and so caring and completely sees me and understands that I am not available a lot."

Because Chelsea is proudly living life on her terms and isn’t going to waste time with someone who isn’t down for the ride.

"My life is pretty crazy, and he appreciates that," the comedy star added. "And he’s around when I want him to be, and he’s great."

However, Chelsea insisted she isn’t looking to settle down with someone anytime soon.

"Listen, I go through periods where I have multiple lovers, and that’s kind of what I wanted to do when I was a little girl," she shared. "I wanted to grow up and be a woman that did have multiple lovers. I’ve never been interested in marriage. I’m not interested in long-term commitments—to work, to people, to anything. I am a free spirit, and I want to remain and soar like an eagle. I want to soar like an eagle with my heart and legs wide open."

So when Chelsea enters a new relationship, she’s honest about what she wants.

"Listen, I love men. You know what I mean?" the Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me Chelsea author said on the podcast. "I want to have adventures with lots of them, and I try to make sure everybody knows that’s where I’m coming from when I’m in a relationship or any sort of—you know what I mean? I’m very upfront. I’m not a liar. I’m just like, 'Listen, this is the deal. Do you want in?'"

Rich Polk/E! Entertainment/NBCUniversal/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

"It's not nice to him to give away the details,” she told Parade in a January 2025 interview. “I loved him at one point in my life, and I don't want to hurt him. And also, I'm at a different place in my life where I don't have to give away the dish. My breakup with Jo Koy was the first mature ending to a relationship that I was in. My behavior was mature and graceful. I honored the relationship by never actually divulging what happened, and I liked that version of myself.”

In fact, Chelsea added, “I don’t think I’ve spoken to Jo Koy since we broke up.”

And that's far from the only shift she's made lately.

With an act that's slightly less biting, but no less funny, "I want people to be happy and prosperous and nice to each other," she explained on pal Scott Evan's House Guest YouTube series in December.

"I had to change my whole personality to become that person," she cracked, telling fans, "and I've done it, so you can f--king do it, too."

Growing nicer with age, "I wouldn't say say softer," she explained, "just a nice, more refined."

It helps that there's not all that much for her to be upset about these days.

"My life is exactly what I hoped it would be—it's more than I hoped it would be," she told Parade. "I had no idea what the possibilities were or that I could live a life like this and feel so free.”

As she preps for Critics Choice hosting duties, look back at show's best red carpet looks of all time.

(E! and USA Network are both part of Versant Media.)

(This story was originally published Feb. 7, 2025. at 6:50 a.m. PST.)

Wearing a black gown with ruffled details on the spaghetti straps and neckline, the X-Men actress looked effortlessly chic at the 2006 ceremony.

She had fans in seventh heaven with her 2007 Critics Choice Awards look, which paired a pale yellow midi dress with the most daring accessory of the times: tan lines.

Jennifer kept it simple and stunning in a minimalist blue gown and tousled up-do at the 2007 event.

Also at the 2007 event, the Oscar winner dazzled in a gold gown and bedazzled clutch.

The Dawson’s Creek alum wore a toga-inspired one-shoulder dress at the 2008 awards ceremony.

This look was an Easy A. Indeed, the Nickelodeon alum wore a pink bandage mini dress to the 2009 Critics Choice Awards.

The Maria actress kept it simple in a drapey one-shoulder gown and white clutch at the 2009 ceremony.

The "Dark Horse" singer was light and bright in a sultry blue gown and furry shawl around her shoulders in 2009.

To the 2010 ceremony, the Nobody Wants This actress wore a black mini dress with matching heels.

As if she knew her gorgeous gown would be popular, the Wicked icon showed some skin in a plunging metallic gown at the 2010 awards show.

The In the Fade actress wore a drapey white gown with subtle sheer detailing while on the red carpet for the 2010 Critics Choice Awards.

The Modern Family alum worked the red carpet in a gunmetal midi-dress at the 2011 ceremony.

Fans were green with envy after spotting the La La Land actress in this flowing gown with a belted waist at the 2012 awards ceremony.

The Woman King actress was fierce as ever in a bright red gown on the 2012 awards red carpet.

The Shameless alum showed up to the 2012 ceremony ready to wow in a bronze one-shoulder gown.

The Idea of You actress was a breath of fresh air in a patterned spaghetti-strap dress at the 2013 ceremony.

The A Quiet Place: Day One star was a vision in a white cross-neck gown as she held up her Critics Choice Award at the 2014 event.

The This is Us actress arrived at the 2016 event in a navy gown to match the blue carpet.

The American Horror Story actress looked sleek in a strapless white gown at the 2018 awards ceremony.

Mother Monster wore a classic strapless gown that featured a drapey train at the 2019 awards ceremony.

The Cravings author dazzled on the 2019 red carpet in a layered white gown that featured a high slit and synched waist detail.

The This is Us actor looked dapper as ever in a burgundy suit and sunglasses at the 2020 event.

The Challengers star served in a two-piece ensemble that featured a sculptural bust element and flowing skirt in 2020.

Something that isn’t rare? Selena bringing it on the red carpet like she did at the 2022 Critics Choice Awards, where she donned a gorgeous red gown that featured a crisscross neckline and cape.

The Spencer actress looked as sparkly as a vampire in the sunlight in a sultry, bedazzled gown at the 2022 ceremony.

At the 2023 Critics Choice Awards, the Crazy Rich Asians actor wowed in a deep turquoise velvet suit.

This look is sheer perfection. The Furiosa actress wowed in a see-through nude gown featuring an A-line skirt in 2023.

The Twisters actress wore an asymmetrical sparkling gown to the 2023 Critics Choice Awards.

Coming through with a timeless look, the We Live in Time actor wore a tan monochromatic ensemble in 2023.

The Abbott Elementary actress arrived at the 2023 awards ready to teach a lesson in fashion in her metallic one-sleeve gown.