Comedians in love! Chelsea Handler knew her boyfriend, Jo Koy, for nearly 20 years before they started dating — but their romance happened right on time.
During an October 2021 episode of her “Dear Chelsea” podcast, Handler admitted that she may have had feelings for Koy when he was a regular guest on her late-night talk show, Chelsea Lately, which ran on E! from 2007 to 2014, but she “suppressed” them.
“By the way, who gives a s–t?” the Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea author said. “Look where we are now. I would’ve ruined it if I had those feelings earlier, probably.”
During their time working together on Chelsea Lately, the host was often combative with Koy. Now, however, she believes it was her just being unable to express how she really felt for the standup comic.
“In retrospect that was my version of flirting,” Handler told E! News on the red carpet of the People’s Choice Awards in December 2021. “I think I was so out of touch with my own emotions that that was my currency.”
She added, “He keeps telling me that I’ve been in love this whole time and didn’t know it so I’m just choosing to believe that.”
The New Jersey native also believes that the only reason she’s been able to make things work with the Mixed Plate: Chronicles of an All-American Combo writer is because she chose to focus on herself first.
“I think you have to be healthy to get healthy, so I had to really dig deep and get my stuff sorted out and then all of a sudden I saw him through a completely different lens,” she said in December 2021. “I was like, ‘Wait a second — that’s my guy, I think.’”
Finding love with Koy made the My Horizontal Life author believe that it’s possible to find “The One” — and she wants her fans to believe it too.
“For everyone who is still looking for their person, do not adjust who you are or make yourself smaller to find them. Be patient and never settle for anything less than you deserve,” the Girls Behaving Badly alum wrote via Instagram in November 2021. “Your person is coming and sometimes — they’ve been standing in front of you the whole time.”
Handler previously dated TV executive Ted Harbert from 2006 to 2010, before moving on with hotelier André Balazs in 2011. The two broke up two years later. She was also linked to rapper 50 Cent in 2010. Koy, meanwhile, shares son Joseph Herbert Jr. with ex-wife Angie King.
Keep scrolling to read more about how this funny duo went from friends to lovers:
The two met on the set of Handler’s E! late-night series Chelsea Lately in which Koy was a frequent guest. Courtesy of Chelsea Handler/Instagram
Rumors that the funny duo were an item started swirling after Handler began posting videos hanging out with the Washington native on her social media. Courtesy of Chelsea Handler/Instagram
The Chelsea Does star teased via Instagram that she had a special someone in her life — but didn’t say who the lucky guy was.“Just sitting here in Mallorca thinking about how grateful I am to have so many people that I love in my life, to live the life I do and to be going on tour doing what I love. And that I’m finally in love, with the best kind of guy there is.” she captioned a photo of herself. “There is hope for everyone! That kind of stuff.” Courtesy of Chelsea Handler/Instagram
Handler made her relationship with Koy Instagram official by posting a photo of the two of them kissing. Courtesy of Chelsea Handler/Instagram
It took Handler nearly 20 years to see Koy as more than a friend — and boy, is she glad she did. “One day, I just looked at him and I thought, ‘Oh, that’s my guy!’” she said during an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. “So he’s like my best buddy, and then I also, you know, get to have sex with him. … Fun time!” Sean Gallagher/NBC
“I love her, man. She’s amazing. She’s a boss. She’s incredible,” Koy told Good Morning Washington. “Nothing better than to be in love with someone that you have been friends with for a long time. She’s got my back, and I’ve always had hers.”He added, “It just feels good to finally find love and it’s with a person I’ve loved for a long time.” Courtesy of Chelsea Handler/Instagram
Handler gushed via Instagram that Koy “renewed my faith in men” for loving her for who she is.“Do you know how hot it is to have a man be turned on by my honesty, strength, and confidence?” the Are You There, Chelsea? alum wrote. “Someone who loves the fact that I’m not going to take anyone’s s–t and isn’t intimidated or emasculated by my fierceness?” Courtesy of Chelsea Handler/Instagram
Handler posted a throwback clip via Instagram of her encouraging Koy to talk about the ins and outs of his sleep apnea in case his “future wife” is listening. When the Metal Shop Masters host notes that he “could die” from the condition, Handler tells him, “No, you won’t. Not on my watch.”The back-and-forth felt very apropos to the Chelsea host. “We filmed this before we started dating,” she captioned the post. “Who had the real crush here? This was shocking for me to see.” Courtesy of Chelsea Handler/Instagram
The twosome made their red carpet debut at the 2021 People’s Choice Awards where Handler told E! correspondent Laverne Cox that she was the one who initiated their romance."I had to make the moves. He's too polite and he's a gentleman," the Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang author revealed. "Finally, I said, 'Jo, what's the deal? Do you have a crush on me or don't you?' And then I moved in on him." Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Koy adorably fixed Handler’s hair while they posed for red carpet photos at the Grammy Awards. The comedian gushed to Entertainment Tonight about their "incredible year" together, saying, "Love brings out the best in everybody. It’s nice when a man can see a woman and just feel seen. You know, somebody sees everything about you and loves you in spite of it and you don’t have to shrink or make yourself less intimidating or any of that.” Matt Baron/Shutterstock
“A couple of years ago I wrote a letter to myself, asking for what I was looking for in a partner, and I got it all. (Well, except one.),” Handler gushed via Instagram. “Happy birthday, to my guy! I love you to the moon and then over to the sun, and back. You’re the sweetest @jokoy.” Courtesy of Chelsea Handler/Instagram
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