Chelsea Handler is opening up about a recent health scare that led to her canceling multiple dates of her Vaccinated & Horny tour earlier this year.
The topic came up when the comedian, 47, was asked about ‘not taking [herself] too seriously’ during an interview with E!
Handler revealed she’d been unknowingly taking herself way too seriously for many years, which led to her suffering a ‘hospital scare’ in February after a comedy show in Seattle, Washington.
Health scare: Chelsea Handler is opening up about a recent health scare that led to her canceling multiple dates of her Vaccinated & Horny tour earlier this year; Handler pictured in 2021
‘I had this cardiomyopathy, which means, like, an adrenaline shot to the heart,’ she explained.
According to the CDC, Cardiomyopathy ‘represents a collection of diverse conditions of the heart muscle’ that reduce the ‘heart muscle’s ability to pump blood’ which can lead to ‘irregular heartbeats, the backup of blood into the lungs or rest of the body, and heart failure.’
While speaking with a doctor at the hospital, Handler wondered if her issue was something that had occurred out of nowhere or if it was something that’d been building over time.
‘I was like, “Was this an instance, or was this building?” And the doctor says, “Well, it’s an instance, but you’ve basically been very stressed for a long period of time and you probably did not recognize that.” And I was like, “Oh, s**t.”‘
Hospital: Handler suffered a ‘hospital scare’ in February after a comedy show in Seattle, Washington; Chelsea pictured in February
Handler’s Vaccinated & Horny tour kicked off in July 2021, with 10 stops across the United States. 24 more dates were eventually added, which meant Handler would continue her tour until July 2022.
She continued, ‘And he goes, “I don’t know a lot about you, but isn’t your whole shtick that you don’t take yourself too seriously?” And I went, “Yeah…” And he goes, “Well then you should start taking your own advice because you’re taking yourself too seriously.”
‘And I thought, “God, you’re right. What am I doing here? I’m stressed out so much that I landed in the hospital?” I’m fine now. But I was like, “Good advice: Practice what you preach.” It was a good reminder to let everything go.’
On top of talking about her health concerns, the New Jersey native also opened up about her relationship with beau Jo Koy.
Having to do with her heart: ‘I had this cardiomyopathy, which means, like, an adrenaline shot to the heart,’ she explained; Chelsea pictured performing in October 2021
Stress related: ‘I was like, “Was this an instance, or was this building?” And the doctor says, “Well, it’s an instance, but you’ve basically been very stressed for a long period of time and you probably did not recognize that.” And I was like, “Oh, s**t”‘; Chelsea seen in April 2022
When asked how it feel to be dating someone who can really understand the pressures of her career, Handler replied, ‘It’s pretty awesome. He’s the best. And he was a great reminder of all the people that came out of Chelsea Lately, and the careers that were launched: Fortune [Fesiter], Tiffany Haddish.
‘We were putting all these people on television before people were saying, “We’re underrepresented with the LGBTQ community.” It was just an open door policy for everybody. If you were funny, that’s all that mattered.’
She went on to say that the two support each other a lot in their professional careers, and she hinted at a possible collaboration in the future where they could perform together.
In love: On top of talking about her health concerns, the New Jersey native also opened up about her relationship with beau Jo Koy; the couple pictured in April 2022
Handler says a big difference between her current relationship and any she’s had in the past is that she’s ‘an adult now.’
She added, ‘I had gone a long time without ever sitting down to contemplate or reflect. And therapy changed that. It gives you the gift of self-awareness. I would never have been open to dating Jo Koy unless I had had therapy. So what’s different about it is, I’m in a different place. He’s in a different place. He’s a man and I’m a woman, whereas before I was a girl and he was a boy. It’s been a great love story. I didn’t really think I would get this.’
The This Means War actress said she may even write a book about her love story with Koy, though she did admit she has a number of other projects she’s currently focused on.
Koy frequently guest starred on Handler’s popular television show Chelsea Lately which ran from 2007 to 2014.
Awesome: Real understanding: When asked how it feel to be dating someone who can really understand the pressures of her career, Handler replied, ‘It’s pretty awesome. He’s the best’
Friends to lovers: She told Jimmy Fallon during an appearance on The Tonight Show that it took her more than 20 years to see Koy as anything more than a friend
However, rumors that the two were couple only started swirling last summer.
Handler teased that she was dating someone in September, but wouldn’t say who before going Instagram official with Koy later in the month.
She lated told Jimmy Fallon during an appearance on The Tonight Show that it took her more than 20 years to see Koy as anything more than a friend.
They made their red carpet debut at the 2021 People’s Choice Awards last December.
First red carpet appearance: The duo made their red carpet debut at the 2021 People’s Choice Awards last December
