Chelsea Handler: 'My Dad Threatened to Sue Me'

By Nicki Gostin Posted Mar 16th 2010 09:19AM

Chelsea Handler doesn't pull punches. Whether it's her bowling ball-headed father, her recently-ended relationship or the Kardashians and their classiness (or lack thereof), the cheeky host of E!'s 'Chelsea Lately' keeps it fast and fresh. On the occasion of her new book, an essay collection titled 'Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang,' the 35-year-old comedian chatted with PopEater about discovering a risque joy at a young age, being a woman in comedy and why her father threatened to sue her.

Are you going to be upset if this book doesn't reach number one like your last one?
Yeah, I'll probably be disappointed. I've got some serious competition out there now. Karl Rove.

The first essay in the book is about discovering masturbation as a kid. Ever been embarrassed by what you wrote?
No, I talk about masturbation in my stand up routine. I'm not embarrassed by anything I say. It's all pretty ridiculous.

Is your family embarrassed?
Yes, they are completely embarrassed. My dad threatened to sue me. I was on 'The Today Show,' and I said he's dating his 20-year-old Jamaican cleaning lady and he said, 'Please don't say that. I don't want people to think I'm off the market.' And I'm like, nobody wants you on the market, because you're so gross and you look like a bowling ball. Then he said that he could sue me and I said, 'No, because you'd have to borrow the money off me to sue me, so no.'

It seems like weird things happen to you. Why is that?
I attract nonsense in my life. You should see the group of people I'm sitting in a car with now. I think I'm just a little bit off, so I like to have people around me who are just a little bit off-er, so I look a little more normal.

You torture your boyfriend a lot.
I don't anymore. I tortured him so much we broke up.

Aww, I'm sorry.
It's okay. He's going to get over it one day. That's mean to say. I'm going to get bad karma in my next relationship. I shouldn't say that, but it's true.

Are you looking for a new boyfriend?
I am looking. Will you put it on AOL that I'm looking for someone of Polynesian or maybe Asian descent? I want to do something I haven't done before.

You're a pretty girl. Do you think that hurt or helped your comedy career?
Thank you for the compliment. I think it probably helped me. There are lots of attractive female comics around now.

Favorite guest on the show?
I love Jenny McCarthy. Women who are not scared to talk and say funny things. I love outspoken women.

You're executive producing a show for E!
A couple of them. One of them is called 'Pretty Wild,' and it's a pretty embarrassing show. It makes the Kardashians look pretty classy.

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Chelsea Handler Snapshots

Chelsea Handler's latest book is 'Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang.' Check out pics of the talk-show host out and about >>

Grand Central Publishing

Chelsea Handler Snapshots

Chelsea Handler promotes "Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang at Barnes & Noble Union Square on March 9, 2010 in New York City. Chelsea Handler Signs Copies Of "Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang" - March 9, 2010 Barnes & Noble Union Square New York, NY United States March 9, 2010 Photo by Jeffrey Ufberg/WireImage.com To license this image (59865048), contact WireImage.com

Chelsea Handler Snapshots

Chelsea Handler promotes "Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang" at Barnes & Noble Union Square on March 9, 2010 in New York City. Chelsea Handler Signs Copies Of "Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang" Barnes & Noble Union Square New York, NY United States March 9, 2010 Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic.com To license this image (59864634), contact FilmMagic.com

Chelsea Handler Snapshots

In this book cover image released by Grand Central Publishing, the latest by TV personality Chelsea Handler, "Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, " is shown. (AP Photo/Grand Central Publishing)

Chelsea Handler Snapshots

MIAMI - FEBRUARY 06: Chelsea Handler attends the 4th annual Saturday Night Spectacular celebration at The Bank of America Tower on February 6, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for Saturday Night Spectacular) *** Local Caption *** Chelsea Handler

Chelsea Handler Snapshots

CULVER CITY, CA - DECEMBER 07: Chelsea Handler attends A Rumble In The Concrete Jungle at Sony Studios on December 7, 2009 in Culver City, California. (Photo by Tiffany Rose/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Chelsea Handler

Chelsea Handler Snapshots

CULVER CITY, CA - DECEMBER 07: Ted Harbert and Chelsea Handler attend A Rumble In The Concrete Jungle at Sony Studios on December 7, 2009 in Culver City, California. (Photo by Tiffany Rose/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ted Harbert;Chelsea Handler

Chelsea Handler Snapshots

Tags: books, chelsea handler, chelsea lately, interview

Comments

(57)

Tuesday 16 March

By Nick Mayor

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Chelsea Handler is about as funny was having a miscarriage. She represents how utterly vapid twenty somethings are today.

By tina

Nicely said you dill weed.

By nherent

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

She must be doing something right. She has a successful career.
You make it seem like people once upon a time were sophisticated and had substance. I'm curious when that was?

By KAT

OMG!!! She would Love that you called her twenty-something!
Now thats Funny!

By Jen

What you lack in wit you can't even make up for in attention span; the article you just finished reading says she's 35.

By sk

She's 35, if you read the article.

By john

Vote down Vote up Report this

Chelsea Handler is a pathetic moron

She is in her mid thirties but her fan base is much younger. And if you equate talent with success, then you are showing how utterly immature and ignorant you are. As someone who worked in the entertainment industry for over twenty years, it's sad to see someone so bereft of talent have success just because of very good marketing. Some day you might grow up and wonder why you even found her reomotely funny. Of course, this is the idiot generation which gave Dane Cook a career, a man who is about as funny as watching your house burn down with your newborn inside.

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Bitter, party of you!

By salis27

Sounds like a little jealousy to me. What exactly did you do in the entertainment industry? I have never heard of you and I doubt anyone else has either. If you really have been in the business, I would think you would realize that different people find different things entertaining. Chelsea is very funny and quite smart. Maybe that is the problem... I believe she may just be above your head. Her fan base isn't just "twenty somethings." I happen to be 33 myself and I know plenty of people my age and older who enjoy her. What makes you qualified to speak for everyone? You sound like a bitter, jealous man. Not everyone has to like her, but you apparently have some interest in her or you wouldn't be posting and responding on here! Don't hate just because you will never have the success she has. Just go back to your tired, boring, humorless life and let us enjoy a beautiful, funny, and talented woman without your ridiculous remarks!

By ethan

nick - what happened to you that you are such a bitter person? if you don't like her, that's fine, but don't tell me or anyone else that we're immature, etc. for liking her. diversity is a good thing and i happen to think she is crazy funny. just because you don't understand something, there is no need to lash out at it. that's a sign of ignorance and stupidity. beyond that, WHAT is with all the references to harming or killing children? in your first post you said ...funny as a miscarriage. in your second post you said ...watching your house burn down with your newborn inside. instead of posting about chelsea handler, perhaps you should be using your time on the internet to search for a qualified psychiatrist in your area.

By sandra

Speaking of being an idiot, you seem to be right at the top of the list!

Sunday 28 March

By alysse

I agree with you Nick, hilarious that the naysayers didn't catch what you wrote and assumed you meant she was in her 20's. She is college bawdy humor and will disappear. I've watched her interviewed and on her show. She has issues, major issues with anything not like her. An egoist without self-esteem.

By Mark

She was funny at first. She is not looking good or very funny these days. Looks like she is on the white powder or something.

By concept59

Yup, a genius on E!....'nuff said...

By WILL

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

NEVER HEARD OF HER

By rann948

Me neither, and after reading this interview, I will make sure I never see her. What a case of arrested development!

By Stacy

She is 35?? she looks really really old! she looks close to 50.

Wednesday 17 March