newjerseynewsroom.com

New Jersey native getting her share of celebrity news

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Livingston native Chelsea Handler has been making her share of news in recent weeks.

Given Handler's persona, it isn't all that surprising that E!'s queen of late night got her start in comedy at a court-mandated alcohol education class. When the story of her driving-while-intoxicated arrest left her fellow convicts in stitches, it inspired the then-struggling actress to pursue a career in stand-up comedy.

Belvedere vodka even sponsored her current Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang book tour, which included a recent stop in Atlantic City.

Now she is reportedly part of another new odd couple in the Hollywood world. Chelsea Handler and 50 Cent are dating, a source confirmed to Us Magazine. In an apparent slow news day, the unexpected pair were photographed at a New Orleans bar on Sunday.

"It's been going on awhile," the source says of the comedienne and the rapper, both 35. "It's more of a hookup thing — whenever they are in the same town."

50 Cent's rep had no comment. A rep for the Chelsea Lately host tells Us, "She saves all her comments for her show."

Starpulse.com reports that in September, Handler parted ways with Animal Planet star Dave Salmoni after about two months of dating. 50 Cent (real name: Curtis Jackson) briefly dated actress Vivica Fox in 2003, and has a son, Marquise, 12, with ex-girlfriend Shaniqua Tompkins.

September was also when Handler hosted the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. A day after she was relentlessly roasted by media pundits for her efforts, Handler answered her critics on Monday's edition of Chelsea Lately with a short and sweet message: "F **k off."

According to the New York Daily News, The VMAs reportedly netted 11.4 million viewers and is currently the highest-rated cable telecast of 2010.

Mail Online reports that Handler's controversy ratings recently went through the roof with the disclosure of a 'sex tape' that Handler made when she was an up and coming, struggling comedienne.

RadarOnline posted stills from the video which showed Handler performing a stand-up routine but then cut sharply to grainy footage of Handler involved in a number of graphic sex acts with an unidentified male, before cutting back to her stand-up.

Handler tore apart the website on her show, Chelsea Lately and insisted that the tape was made by her as part of a comedy skit. She even went on to claim that she has often played the tape as a joke at family gatherings and staff meetings.

An adult entertainment company is in the stages of releasing the tape.

But Handler does remember her roots; although not necessarily with fondness. South Jersey Magazine asked her, "What's the best thing about growing up in Jersey?" Handler's answer came without hesitation: "Leaving."

Handler's Livingston, N.J., childhood is a recurring topic in her writing.