Chelsea Handler’s Controversial Defense of Comedians

Chelsea Handler has recently stepped in to defend those she feels needed it—only to find that those she was trying to protect didn’t actually feel offended.

Handler criticized comedians Shane Gillis and Tony Hinchcliffe for what she termed “racist” and “gross” jokes during “The Roast Of Kevin Hart.” She specifically aimed her remarks at the offensive nature of their humor, particularly jokes about lynching and insensitive comments directed at Sheryl Underwood, whose husband had died by suicide.

While speaking on Deon Cole’s podcast “Funny Knowing You” on May 20, Handler labeled Gillis and Hinchcliffe as “racist, bigots, and sexist.” She expressed her outrage, saying, “Lynching is not a joke. That’s worse than rape.” However, shortly after Handler’s outcry, Underwood appeared on Gillis’ podcast and stated that she, in fact, was not offended by the humor.

“Sometimes humor is the thing,” Underwood remarked, emphasizing that uncomfortable humor can relieve tension. She indicated that if she wasn’t offended by the jokes, others shouldn’t be offended on her behalf.

Handler, however, remained resolute in her position, expressing her discomfort with the jokes about Underwood’s late husband. “If she says she’s fine with that, she’s fine with that. I wasn’t fine with that,” she stated.

Interestingly, Handler has faced criticism for her past comments and perceived exploitation of her relationships with black men to deflect accusations of racism. Back in 2014, a controversial tweet post following Lupita Nyong’o’s Oscar win drew attention, and during an appearance on Good Morning America, she defended herself by stating, “I’m not a racist… I date a lot of black people.”

Underwood has confirmed she was made aware of the jokes beforehand and felt comfortable with their content. She mentioned that today’s comedy often pushes boundaries, but added, “if you worry about that, you restrict yourself to great comedy.”

In response to Handler’s remarks, Gillis expressed his view of the situation, noting, “This is a big moment for Chelsea. I am glad she’s capitalizing. Good for her.”