Chelsea Handler says she's 'grown so much' after Jo Koy breakup: 'I do want a relationship'

Comedian Chelsea Handler isn't letting her breakup with Jo Koy jade her view on love.

During an appearance on the "Now What? with Brooke Shields" podcast Dec. 27, Handler opened up about how her split from Koy inspired her Netflix special "Chelsea Handler: Revolution."

"It's about me kind of losing my faith in men and kind of all the examples of why, and then finally meeting Jo Koy and renewing my faith in men," Handler explained. "And then even after that not working out, not to shut down and close off, to not use a failed relationship or a relationship that didn't go the distance as a reason to say, '(expletive) it. I'm single again.' "

She continued: "I do want a relationship. It's OK for me to admit that now, like, I've learned and I've grown so much, that I got a taste of what that togetherness feels like, and I want it again."

Handler and Koy announced their breakup on social media back in July, with the comics each sharing heartfelt messages about their relationship.

Before the two started dating, Handler and Koy knew each other for nearly 20 years, Handler said in an October 2021 episode of her "Dear Chelsea" podcast. Handler teased she may have had feelings for him when he regularly appeared as a guest on her late-night talk show, "Chelsea Lately."

Let's take a look back at some of the pair's biggest relationship moments. 

Chelsea Handler, Jo Koy announce breakup

Handler and Koy found a creative way to announce their breakup on social media. In July, Handler shared an Instagram video of the now ex-couple celebrating their first anniversary together early, while simultaneously breaking the news of their amicable split in the caption.

"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 wrote. "I know many of you were invested in our love, and I wanted to express to you how much that meant to both of us. How much it still means. And how much I now believe in love for each one of us."

Koy addressed the split on his Instagram page with a photo of the two holding their dogs.

"Just want everyone to know that Chelsea and I will always remain great friends and will always have love for one another," Koy wrote. "I’m her biggest fan and I can’t wait for you all to see what she has in store for the future. Keep killing it Chelsea! Mahal kita!"

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Chelsea Handler opens up about emotional toll of Jo Koy breakup

On the "We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle" podcast in July, Handler shared the emotional toll the split was taking on her, as well as her optimism for the future.

"I've changed so much. My love was so big that it just blew me open," Handler said. "As painful as the ending of something like that is, I'm so well versed in therapy and understanding that every door shutting is a new beginning and I do believe it."

Handler said she became so used to compromising and making Koy the biggest part of her life.

"But you can’t change somebody intrinsically. And so, I was willing to do so much bending, but there’s a line. And I’m very proud of myself, because I didn’t let myself cross that line," Handler said.

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'Solid night' on a boat in Manhattan

In June, the two shared a photo from a lunch date on a boat in New York City. "If you’ve never had a loooooooong lunch on a boat in Manhattan while it’s docked, then you are missing out," Handler wrote alongside a photo of the two smiling with the city skyline behind them.

The couple ate oysters, made friends and Joy "did stand-up, while sitting down and entertaining the entire bar," Handler wrote. "We stayed for hours and felt like we were in Hawaii and then hauled our asses over to Joe’s for some pizza to cap off our Manhattan night."

A selfie and a 'kiss goodnight'

Koy is the definition of "if he could, he would."

In April, Koy posted a selfie of the two reuniting after Handler was in Kansas City and Koy was in Springfield, Missouri. When he finished his comedy show, Koy said he "drove down to kiss (Handler) goodnight."

"I love my Chelsea," he captioned the selfie.

Handler and Koy goof around in road rage PSA

In a comedic public service announcement posted in June, Handler and Koy criticize drivers who honk in the middle of traffic.

"Just because someone cuts you off. That's just what happens in the middle of the day. You don't need to freak out about it," Handler said.

Now that the couple has called it quits, fans might miss the comedic videos the two posted goofing around and having fun with each other.

Date night at the award shows

The couple attended the 2022 Grammy Awards in April at the MGM Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Handler wore a black off-shoulder dress with floral details and Koy kept it classic donning a navy blue suit.

In December 2021, the two also attended the People's Choice Awards together. The two looked chic in all black.

Cooking 'Jewipino' food together, fusing each other's cultures

On Easter, the pair fused Koy's Filipino heritage and Handler's Jewish roots while filming a cooking video for social media. They dubbed it "Jewipino" food.

Handler and Koy cooked the Filipino egg roll called "lumpia" and replaced the usual meat it comes with by adding pastrami in honor of Handler's culture. When they roll up the flour, Handler catches Koy off guard by licking her finger and touching the flour so it sticks. "It's being bonded together by saliva," Koy jokes.

Koy invites 'strong, powerful' Handler on stage

Before wrapping a comedy show in November 2021, Koy brought Handler on stage and expressed his appreciation for her in front of his fans.

"Find yourself a strong, powerful and loving person to be in your life, and watch how bright your light will shine," Koy captioned the Instagram video.

The pair at the last episode of 'Chelsea Lately'

In honor of the season two premiere of her podcast, "Dear Chelsea," Handler shared a photo of her and Koy at the last episode of "Chelsea Lately." The talk show ran from 2007 to 2014.

"From the last episode of Chelsea Lately to today," Handler wrote. "Age is a beautiful thing … We’ll let you decide whose story of how we fell in love is better," Handler said.

Contributing: Edward Segarra, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chelsea Handler says Jo Koy breakup inspired standup comedy special