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 Pat

Vote down Vote up Report this

So her boyfriend broke up with her Guess he found out you cant turn a whore into a housewife.She isnt funny has never been funny and dont see it happening any time soon

By tommy

Yecchhh!! She aint got any tits

By Lazarus Long

Say what? You have obviously never seen her in a low cut top. That is the one area she has a abundance of talent.

She ain't aging well,though. She has aged ten years in the last 2. Still pretty,but looking pretty hard.

Which isn't surprising given that her "humor" is based on ridiculing everybody in sight including her family and her friends. When you live on bile it shows.

Heather McDonald is/was on her show a lot,and she is a LOT funnier and talented than Chelsea. She wasn't blowing a network exec,though.

By Tena

Chelsea Handler can be a little over the top, but I think she is great! People either love her or hate her. If you hate her, don't watch her show and don't read her books. Problem solved.

By bearzfl

I never heard of this person...

By Karen

Her genius lies simply in the fact that people who DONT like her will still take the time and effort to discuss her! Smart marketing. The more talk there is, whether negative or positive, the more people will check her out, just to see for themselves!

By jinx nolan

I wish the author of E! would not say to a woman of 35, 'You are a pretty girl.' It seems condescending to me.

By dan

MORE WHITE TRASH, ENOUGH SAID.

Shrill leftism isn't funny. It's just PC in the entertainment industry. Her sucess is due to her blowing the president of the E network and making sure everybody knows she is Jewish.

By Dorie

The 20 year old, was her dad's Jamaican cleaning lady, she said her dad was dating. He should be so lucky, who knows/cares maybe he is.

By ibehoneytoou

Forget about the book , and her nasty mouth~ None of that is even close to as shocking as the fact that she just now turned 35!!!! You have got to be kidding me~ So I guess she is shocking as well as funny~ shocked that she is 35 ,,and funny that she looks 45+ and don't give me this ,,(Im jealous ) I have nothing to be jealous of ~ just as I said shocked by her age and her looks~ wow I feel pretty good right now~

By john

This is one nutty chick! No wonder the world is the way it is today with people like this hosting a show.

By Jessie

I am 48 and I think she is funny.. I watch her show every night.. (And yes Chelsey Joe Koi is HOT!!!) When you get older you relize life is short.. When your dead, do you really think all this "seriousness" really matters? Omg, LIGHTEN UP peeps... Enjoy it while you can... Cause it's going to be over sooner than you think... Chelsey... You go Gir llllll....

By Milo

I love anyone (like Chelsea) who pisses off dog screwing, bible thumping, Lard ass, Reepuke Goobers..........

By Debbie

I like Chelsea and think she's a very smart woman but I can not believe she had a hand in creating "Pretty Wild". One of those girls (Alexis) was arrested for breaking into some houses. So why are they giving her and her sisters a show?

Thursday 29 April

By jnzcram

I am glad Chelsea finally faced reality when your career has hit bottom and you are getting old the best way to revive your image if a woman is taking your clothes off in front of a camera, right on girl !

Sunday 12 December

By anna ward

I love her.I am over 20 and I loose sleep staying up to watch her. I even tape it but hate to miss her. She does not care what people think of her and she says what she wants.And she is lucky enough to get paid well for it!!Sometimeswhat she says is a bit much but I still love her and admire her...I would love to know her and I think anyone is lucky to have her as a friend.You know where you stand with her...And Jo Koy is adorable...she loves dogs and is good to nuggets--how could you not love that??

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