Chelsea Handler is sharing new insight into her past relationship with fellow comedian Jo Koy nearly three years after their split.
Appearing on Dax Shepard’s “Armchair Expert” podcast Monday, Handler spoke briefly about why she and Koy broke up in 2022, roughly a year after they first went public with their romance.
“What I thought was a mature, healthy relationship and what he thought was a mature, healthy relationship were two different things,” she explained. “And I would have had to compromise everything I stand for. I wasn’t willing to do that.”
She went on to note: “We had a couple of instances where it was obvious that we had different ideas about togetherness and the amount of time we would spend together and the expectations of me as his girlfriend, which to me were very outdated, old-fashioned and not going to work.”
Though Handler had spoken about the split on previous occasions, she said in early 2023 that she was no longer interested in sharing details about it, telling “Call Her Daddy” podcast host Alex Cooper: “I understand people are interested but it’s just like, it’s run out of gas.”
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In her chat with Shepard, however, Handler offered a more optimistic take, saying her relationship with Koy was a powerful reminder of her ability to “love in a vulnerable, mature, healthy way.”
Still, she added, “I did not want to break up with him. When we broke up, I felt like I had no choice. I felt like it was a decision between having a relationship and being full on, or choosing myself and my sanity.”
Returning to the “Call Her Daddy” podcast last week, Handler confirmed she’s in a new relationship, though she did not disclose the identity of her partner.
“He’s hot, he’s awesome and so caring,” she said, before quipping: “I want to soar like an eagle with my heart and legs wide open.”
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Handler is expected to address more specific reasons about the breakup, as well as other personal experiences, in her new book, “I’ll Have What She’s Having.”
Due out Feb. 25, the book takes its title from a memorable line in “When Harry Met Sally,” and is billed as a collection of essays that recount Handler’s “unforgettable story of becoming the woman she always wanted to be.”
Listen to Chelsea Handler’s full “Armchair Expert” interview here. Her comments on Jo Koy begin around the 23:24 mark.