Comedian and television host Chelsea Handler has detailed her evolving approach to relationships, revealing she now dates significantly younger men after a lifetime of pursuing older partners. The 51-year-old made the comments during an appearance on the "IRL podcast" with host Angie Martinez.
Handler stated she is currently seeing a man 14 years her junior, whom she met at a Las Vegas casino. She attributed her changed perspective to a conscious decision made when she turned 40, rejecting the pattern of dating men two decades older.
A Deliberate Shift in Preference
"When I was young, 20s, 30s, I always dated older guys. 20s, like 20 years older than me. I always dated 40-year-olds when I was 20, 50-year-olds when I was 30," Handler told the podcast. She decided she did not want to date 60-year-olds upon reaching 40, opting instead to "flip it and reverse it."
"I'm too hot to be dating a 65-year-old. Let's be honest," Handler said, linking her preference to her personal upkeep. "I don't work this hard on myself and take such good care of myself so that I can't have fun and, you know, have a good time."
Valuing Independence Over Tradition
Despite her new relationship, Handler emphasised her commitment to personal freedom. "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," she stated, describing her "whole vibe" as being about liberty.
She labelled marriage as "outdated," but conceded she might marry for the irony. "Since I've bemoaned marriage my whole entire public life, I would be really hypocritical for me to get married, which means I'll probably do it," Handler quipped.
Part of a Broader Hollywood Trend
Handler's stance reflects a trend among several high-profile women in entertainment. In 2024, singer Cher, 78, said she prefers younger men because older ones are often "intimidated" by her; she has a 40-year age gap with her boyfriend, music executive Alexander Edwards.
Similarly, actress Tracee Ellis Ross stated in 2025 that she dates younger men because men her own age are often "steeped in toxic masculinity." Ross explained she has "no interest" in dynamics where she might feel controlled.
Handler has been consistently candid on this topic. In a February 2025 episode of the "Call Her Daddy" podcast, she told host Alex Cooper, "I'm not interested in long-term commitments, to work, to people, to anything. I am a free spirit and I want to remain and soar like an eagle."