Jo Koy Speaks Fondly Of Chelsea Handler 1 Year After Their Split: 'She's A Beautiful Person'

One year after their shocking separation, Comedian Jo Koy still has nothing but love for his ex-girlfriend and fellow comic, Chelsea Handler. 

Koy spoke warmly about Handler, emphasizing their continued friendship at the Broadway opening of "Here Lies Love."

In a candid podcast interview, Handler disclosed that they hadn't spoken in a while and cited disagreements over certain behaviors that led to their breakup. 

Keep on reading to learn more.

In an interview with Page Six at the Broadway opening of his musical, "Here Lies Love" on Thursday night, Jo Koy spoke warmly about his ex-girlfriend Chelsea Handler emphasizing their continued friendship.

"She's a beautiful person, and, you know, we're still friends," the comedian star stated. Reflecting on their nearly year-long relationship, he said, "It was a beautiful time, and she's doing beautiful things right now. She's crushing it right now, so I have nothing but the best love for her."

The pair's romance which began in the summer of 2021, evolved from a longstanding friendship. However, in July 2022, they decided to "take a break," as announced by Handler on her Instagram page.

In a candid revelation on Brooke Shields' "Now What?" podcast last December, Handler disclosed that she and Koy had not been in contact for a considerable time. The former "Chelsea Lately" host expressed her reluctance to resume their friendship unless Koy took responsibility for their relationship's demise.

While she chose not to elaborate on the specifics of the comedian's actions, Handler mentioned that their 11-month relationship had "devolved" due to disagreements over certain behaviors.

She emphasized her unwillingness to compromise her sense of self, stating, "There were just some behaviors that we couldn't agree on. And it felt to me like I would have to abandon myself, which maybe I would have been OK to do if I were 20 or 25. But I wasn't willing to do that."

"I had to walk away from something that I really thought was going to be a forever relationship," Handler continued, adding that "walking away from [Koy] was one of the most difficult things [she's] ever had to do."

Prior to their break up, Handler and Koy always left their fans swooning over their relationship, especially because of how loved-up they always looked on red carpets. 

Handler once gushed about how Koy appreciated her body in all its glory and made her feel good about her cellulite. The comedienne revealed that Koy told her cellulite is what makes a woman a woman. That's f**king sexy. The more, the merrier."

The "Chelsea Lately" star announced their breakup on Instagram using a video they recorded for their first anniversary as a couple. The post's caption read, "It is with a heavy heart to announce that we have decided together that it is best for us to take a break from our relationship right now."

Handler added that her relationship with the Koy changed her life experience and renewed her faith in men. "To be loved and adored by @jokoy has been one of the greatest gifts of my life. He renewed my faith in men, in love, in being 100% who I am, and I've never been more optimistic for the future," she concluded.

Koy, also known for his role as a producer, played a significant part in the musical "Here Lies Love." The show centers around the life of Imelda Marcos, the former first lady of the Philippines, and the 1986 People Power Revolution that led to the overthrow of her and her husband, President Ferdinand Marcos.

Being of Filipino descent himself, Koy's connection to the story runs deep, as he recalled living in the Philippines during the corrupt Marcos regime.

Recalling the memories from his childhood, he shared with Page Six, "When I was a kid, I lived there, and I remember those times, so you know, it was just a memory in my head, and now here we are on Broadway telling a story, a story that my mom's family went through, and now we get to do it in a beautiful way."