Comedians Chelsea Handler and Jo Koy’s breakup may have been amicable but it wasn’t any less painful.
On the “We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle” podcast, Handler shared the emotional toll the split is taking on her as well as her optimism for the future. She said she’s pleased to be “handling a breakup in an honest way for the first time.”
“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 every that every door shutting is a new beginning and I do believe it.”
Handler, 47, 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.
Handler recognized the courage in admitting something isn’t working, and saying you’re inviting more suitable and positive things in your life.
On Monday, the couple found a creative way to announce their breakup on social media.
Handler shared an Instagram video Monday night 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.”
Chelsea Handler continued to gush about Koy, writing that he “blew my heart open with love and because of him, my life experience has changed forever.”
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!”
