Chelsea Handler is setting the record straight about her romantic status with actor Ralph Fiennes.
The single stars sparked dating rumors after they were spotted leaving the Vanity Fair Oscars Party in Beverly Hills together arm-in-arm on Sunday, March 2. “I saw that. I saw about 30,000 articles come through,” Handler, 50, shared in a Wednesday, March 5, interview with Entertainment Tonight. “Your publicist sends you an update of the press you’ve been in daily, and I was like, ‘How long is this email?’”
Despite some fans’ hopes for a new Hollywood power couple, Handler clarified that the rumors are simply just that. “Ralph Fiennes and I went from one party to another party with a group of people, and that’s all that happened,” she stated. “I don’t think Ralph Fiennes is marriage material, and I don’t think I’m marriage material.”
Handler also noted that celebrity status isn’t important to her when it comes to finding a potential partner. “I rarely date celebrities,” she said. “I’ve dated maybe a couple in my whole life.”
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Handler has been romantically connected to several famous faces over the years, including Dave Salmoni and 50 Cent. She most recently dated fellow comedian Jo Koy for less than a year before calling things off in July 2022.
“This man blew my heart open with love and because of him, my life experience has changed forever,” Handler gushed in her Instagram breakup announcement post at the time. “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.”
Fiennes, 62, was previously married to actress Alex Kingston from 1993 to 1997. He went on to date Francesca Annis and was later romantically linked to Ellen Barkin and Patti Smith, among other relationship rumors.
Fiennes walked the Vanity Fair Oscars Party red carpet in a classic black tux, white dress shirt and a black bow tie with white lining. He sported the same look during Sunday’s awards ceremony, at which he was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in Conclave. (He ultimately lost to Adrien Brody for The Brutalist.)
Handler, for her part, shimmered on the afterparty red carpet in a strapless silver dress and matching clutch, which she paired with a pair of gold metallic heels.
Last month, Handler called her current dating life “wonderful” in her exclusive Us Weekly cover story. “I understand now what kind of dater I am, and this is what I am: I want lovers all around the world,” she quipped to Us. “I’m not a liar. I will be very honest and upfront with anyone I’m dating that you may not be the only one, and if you need to know, I’ll let you know, but hopefully you don’t need to ask any further questions.”
Handler went on to emphasize that she’s not looking to tie the knot or have any kids. “I just want to have lots of love stories. I feel like that’s the most romantic way to look at love,” she told Us. “And I’m glad I know that about myself because I think so many women are starting to be more open about [the fact that] this Prince Charming nonsense we’re sold is so silly.”
