In a candid new interview, comedian and television host Chelsea Handler has made her stance on recreational drug use and sober companionship unequivocally clear. The 50-year-old star, known for her unfiltered commentary, declared that individuals who abstain from substances need not pursue a romantic or platonic relationship with her.
A Lifelong Enthusiasm for Psychedelics
Handler appeared on a recent episode of the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast with host Amanda Hirsch, where she elaborated on her positive experiences with drugs. "I love all drugs. I love drugs. I love LSD. I love MDMA," Handler stated, referring to the psychoactive components of ecstasy. While she admitted to having tried cocaine and heroin, she dismissed them as "gross" and not part of her regular routine.
For Handler, substances like LSD and MDMA serve as powerful tools for personal growth. "I think they're a great mind expander, and they're not for everybody, but they're for me," she explained. The comedian argued that the current era is ideal for drug exploration due to the widespread availability of microdoses. She believes smaller quantities mitigate risk, noting, "there's nothing to be scared of because you're not gonna get that f—ed up anyway."
No Room for Sobriety in Her Social Circle
The conversation took a direct turn when Hirsch questioned whether Handler would date or befriend someone who is sober. Handler's response was a firm and immediate "No." She linked her social life directly to her desire to "party" and "get loose."
Defending her lifestyle at age 50, Handler presented herself as a counterexample to negative stereotypes about drug users. "I'm a perfect shining example of drugs being an enhancement to my life," she asserted. "Yeah. Like what, what are you gonna say? I'm a mess. I'm a loser. I don't have it together? I do." She described scenes of measuring out substances with friends at parties as a normalized part of her social interactions.
Reflections on Past Relationships and Self-Preservation
Handler also touched upon her dating history, confirming she is currently seeing someone but offering no details. Her past high-profile relationships include rapper-producer 50 Cent, businessman Andre Balazs, and comedian Jo Koy.
Her split from Koy in July 2022 was initially described amicably on social media. However, in a later appearance on Brooke Shields' Now What? podcast, Handler revealed deeper reasons for the breakup. She cited incompatible behaviors and a refusal to compromise her own identity. "I was not going to abandon myself," Handler stated. "I was like, 'I'm not going to change this, I'm not going to change the way that I behave in order to make you feel more comfortable. I'm not doing that.'" She characterized walking away from that relationship as a difficult but necessary act of self-preservation.
The interview, recorded in January 2026, reinforces Handler's long-established persona of blunt honesty and hedonistic freedom, challenging conventional expectations about aging and sobriety.
