Chelsea Handler has come under scrutiny for her Hollywood ties after building a brand off of mocking the industry and its toxic culture.
Insiders are calling out the comedian for condemning the system after seemingly benefiting from it by allegedly wining and dining with bigwigs, including disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein.
Interest in Chelsea Handler’s Hollywood past intensified after her appearance at a roast where fellow comedian Shane Gillis mentioned her dinner with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
According to a new report, Handler is facing criticism for once hobnobbing with Hollywood’s biggest and most powerful while building a brand based on mocking and exposing the toxic power players in the industry.
Sources from the comedy world speaking to journalist Rob Shuter’s “Naughty But Nice” Substack claim that she was a frequent guest at high-profile dinners, Oscar parties, and other major events hosted by movie mogul Harvey Weinstein during the peak of his Hollywood power.
“Chelsea now acts disgusted by Hollywood culture, but she absolutely benefited from it when it suited her,” a source said. “She was playing the exact same game as everyone else.”
The comedian’s motive for attending such events was allegedly to better her career and gain access to new opportunities.
“Nobody went to Harvey’s dinners because they thought he was charming,” another insider noted. “People went because they wanted something. Chelsea included.”
The Comedian Was Slammed For Positioning Herself As A ‘Fearless Outsider’
The scrutiny Handler is facing intensified after she made an appearance on Netflix’s “Roast of Kevin Hart,” special, and her dinner with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein was brought up.
Comedian Shane Gillis made the remark while taking aim at Handler as part of the comedy show.
“Chelsea is a Zionist. Not saying that’s a good or bad thing,” Gillis said. “Speaking of dead kids, she’s a big fan of abortions. Chelsea’s been scraped more times than the grill at Benihana.”
“Speaking of tossing tiny shrimp into a child’s mouth, Chelsea Handler went to dinner at Jeffrey Epstein’s house in 2010. Look it up, there are articles,” he added.
Gillis further explained that it wasn’t “like a big party,” implying it was an intimate setting with other controversial individuals, “like Prince Andrew and Woody Allen,” present.
Reacting to Handler’s new turn mocking Hollywood, an insider told Shuter that it was a bit hypocritical, as the comedian is “part of” the system.
“It’s hard to position yourself as this fearless outsider exposing Hollywood hypocrisy when you were actively participating in the machine for years,” the source stated. “Chelsea wasn’t outside the system — she was part of it.”
Chelsea Handler Says ‘Something’s Wrong’ With Men When It Comes To Dating
While Handler has become known for poking fun at Hollywood’s toxic culture, she recently turned her attention to the dating world, particularly men.
During an appearance on the “Howie Mandel Does Stuff” podcast, the comedian claimed that “something’s wrong” with men as dating apps and social media have spoiled them into thinking women are abundant, hence the reason why many are unwilling to commit.
“It’s very hard in today’s world to meet straight guys that have their sh-t together. Something’s wrong. I don’t know what’s wrong,” Handler said.
She explained that she has been trying to connect straight men with women who are willing and ready to settle, but hasn’t had any luck due to the current terrain, adding that even the women she’s been meeting have experienced the same situation.
“So, I was initially trying to help straight women meet straight men,” Handler explained. “But I think with dating apps and social media, there’s just so much abundance and so much choice that nobody really feels like they have to … lock it in.”
According to her, the proliferation of dating apps has destroyed effort in modern romance.
“They can swipe through 50 women a day,” she said. “So they’re not making the effort that people used to make to date.”
She explained that the situation has seemingly taken a toll on women, especially the successful ones who are ready and willing to settle down but keep running into dead ends.
“I meet all these amazing, incredible women that are like bad-ss,” she said. “They have their own lives, they have their big jobs, and they’re all just like, ‘There’s no men out there.’”
Handler also spoke about her own situation, saying she’s more into casual dating and likes that she’s doing it in her own terms.
“I wouldn’t say I’m in a relationship,” she admitted. “I would say I’m dabbling in different areas of my life. I don’t like to be tethered to one person.”
Chelsea Handler Loves ‘Hooking Up With Guys’
Handler’s comments on men happen to be inconsistent with her personal view on relationships and marriage, as she previously said she doesn’t like to get serious with a partner and loves “hooking up with guys.”
While noting that she isn’t men-centered during an appearance on the “Angie Martinez IRL Podcast,” the 51-year-old slammed marriage as an “outdated” and “really silly” idea, while noting she prefers to be free and not tied down to one person. She added that she’s “not out seeking men,” because it is “not my agenda in life.”
“I’m here for women, and I’m here for myself,” she said, per Fox News Digital. “I’ve never been very thirsty for a man or a partner. You’ve got to really kind of get my attention for me to pay attention in a serious way because otherwise it’s a bunch of casual encounters.”
She added, “You know what I mean? I like that. I like traveling a lot. I like hooking up with guys. I don’t like to get too serious. I don’t want someone in my space all the time. I just am not interested in that.”