Chelsea Handler Faces Backlash Over New Video

To celebrate her 49th birthday, Chelsea Handler uploaded a video of her skiing with her two dogs, Bert and Bernice—and people aren’t happy.

In 2023, the comedian said that she visits her ski chalet in Whistler, Canada, for her birthday every year and commemorates the trip by posting a video of herself online. On Sunday, Handler brought back this tradition by uploading a clip to social media of her skiing in her bikini.

In one portion of the clip, she is hitting the slopes with a cocktail in one hand and a joint in the other. In another part of the video, she has one of her dogs strapped in a backpack on her back while holding her other dog in her arms. She set the clip to a mashup of the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive”, and “In Da Club,” by rapper 50 Cent, whom she briefly dated.

“Multi-tasking on my 49th!” Handler captioned her viral post on X. At the time of writing, it had been viewed more than 4.3 million times.

Unfortunately for Handler, people took to the comments to express their concern over the safety of her dogs. Newsweek contacted a representative for Handler via email for comment Monday.

“That poor pet. I want to start a go fund me for this pet for emotional distress from being around her,” one person posted on X.

“Those poor dogs look like they’re in a hostage video,” added another.

“Wow I think that’s animal cruelty,” someone else commented.

“Why would you risk your dog like that?” a different X user asked.

A fifth added: “Doesn’t look safe for dogs.”

Another social-media user tagged PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, in their comment: “Where is PETA to protect these innocent animals?”

In a statement shared with Newsweek, PETA Vice President Mimi Bekhechi said she has concerns over the clip.

“You don’t have to be PETA to see that this video shows a dog being put in a risky situation, so while we know Chelsea loves her dogs, we’re sure that her canine companions would be happier, and safer, waiting in a warm chalet rather than hurtling down the slopes,” Bekhechi added.

“Humans wipe out all the time, but their dogs shouldn’t have to risk injury along with them,” she said.

Not everyone has been upset by the video, as a variety of Handler’s celebrity friends commented on the clip that she also uploaded to Instagram to wish her a happy birthday.

“You’re amazing! Enjoy your day!!! I mean, I can clearly see that you are?!” actor Toni Collette wrote.

“Your [sic] the coolest,” singer Rita Ora posted.

“I want to come back as one of your dogs,” podcast host Alexandra Cooper commented.

Media personality Lauren Sánchez added: “So good. You look happy and hot! HBD [Happy birthday].”

In a guest column for The Hollywood Reporter published in February 2023, Handler said she first went to the British Columbia ski resort for her birthday for the first time over a decade ago.

“I went to Whistler for the first time for my 38th birthday with girlfriends,” she added. “I’ve been going there every year for Christmas with my family and for my birthday in February.”

Handler said her house in Whistler serves her “three main passions in life”—”reading books, cannabis and skiing.”

“Every winter, we have to plan and coordinate my birthday skiing video. Topless videos where I have little flags covering my nipples and I wear a bikini bottom and have a margarita in one hand and a joint in the other. It’s become an annual thing,” Handler added.