Chelsea Handler Says Legendary ‘9 to 5’ Actress and Activist, 87, Once Called Her Out for ‘Bad Behavior’ originally appeared on Parade.
There’s a lot to be said for friend who keep you accountable. And in Hollywood, those folks are fewer and farther between than there should be. So when an icon of the silver screen (and countless feminist causes) tells you to get your act together, you listen. And that’s exactly what comedian and author Chelsea Handler, 50, did.
Recently on Jennifer Hudson‘s show, Handler told the story about how Jane Fonda, 87, once gave her a stern talking to about her behavior. According to Handler she attended one of Fonda’s legendary parties and did not “behave” well.
“In a very stern way she summoned me to her house and was like ‘you acted terribly at my party. I don’t know what you were on or what you were doing but you insulted a lot of people and you were very rude. And I need to know why you would even come to my party if you were going to act like that,” Handler recalled.
She went on to say she was “mortified” that one of her idols had felt compelled to call her out like that. However she knew it was coming from a place of love.
“I understood that what she was doing was such a sisterly thing to do,” said Handler, noting that it changed her life because she was never going to act a way that drew such ire from someone she admired.
Related: Chelsea Handler Once Asked Woody Allen and Adopted Daughter-Turned-Wife Soon-Yi a Controversial Question at Jeffrey Epstein’s House
Fans were all about the candid story, for both Fonda’s “lecture” and Handler’s reception of it.
“I love people who acknowledge and take responsibility,” said one fan.
“There’s nothing more affirming than accountability,” added another. “These days nobody really has it. Everyone is just wanting to be at someone’s throat while knowing they are in the wrong. It’s one of the most annoying things about society to me these days.”
The full Fonda story, and many other candid and hilarious tales, are in Handler’s most recent book I’ll Have What She’s Having.
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Chelsea Handler Says Legendary ‘9 to 5’ Actress and Activist, 87, Once Called Her Out for ‘Bad Behavior’ first appeared on Parade on Aug 15, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
