So Why Isn't Chelsea Handler In Livingston High School Hall Of Fame? Depends Who You Ask

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Former talk show host Chelsea Handler, who's been known to discuss her most intimate moments in her best-selling autobiographies — and who's currently on a "Vaccinated And Horny" tour — said while hosting Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show two weeks ago that Livingston High School won't admit her to its Hall of Fame because she frequently talks about the abortions she had as a teen.

Then things got weird.

Handler asked fans to mount a social media campaign to complain to the district.

"Apparently, the school is upset about how much I talk about my abortions, so I've decided to start a grassroots campaign," she said in her opening monologue (see 8:30).

"You should donate to Planned Parenthood, and then march, and then vote, but after you're done with that, go online and Tweet a message to the school district for my alma mater @LivSchools," she said. "Let them know how you feel about this gross injustice and use the hashtag #Hall4Handler."

To laughter, she added, "And have fun with it! Make me proud. Livingston High, the 'Hall' is in your court!"

She also noted that the school had inducted former Gov. Chris Christie '80 (whose administration famously tied up traffic including potential emergency vehicles for no good reason), and actor Jason Alexander '77 (known as Jay Greenspan back then).

Only one problem.

School officials said that the committee that inducts people had put the process on hold during the pandemic, and that the people Tweeting at them were doing so due to "false statements."

"Ms. Handler’s representatives reached out to the district earlier this year expressing her wish to be included in the LHS Hall of Fame," officials said in a written statement last week. "Clearly, this is very important to her. Since it has been several years since anyone has been inducted into the alumni Hall of Fame, the district immediately looked into the possibility of meeting her request, and communicated directly with her representatives the process for moving forward."

They said, "We are saddened that Ms. Handler would use her platform to amplify a political message at the expense of our school community."

They clarified, "Ms. Handler’s representatives emailed the district in February requesting information on how she could be included in the LHS Hall of Fame, which is managed by the Livingston Education Foundation (LEF). Due to the pandemic, the LEF has not fully functioned as an organization for several years and has new leadership. While the LEF considered holding a solo induction, they realized that as an organization, they needed to adhere to an official nomination process for the Hall of Fame."

"Following several email exchanges with Ms. Handler’s staff in February/March ... the district clearly communicated to her staff that she would be considered by the LEF the next time candidates are reviewed."

School officials said they had reached out to Handler's, er, handlers to find out why she made the claims.

What's The Update?

As of Monday, according to the district, they've received no response from Handler or Handler's handlers.

Handler has been speaking out in light of the recent Supreme Court decision about abortion, and has also amplified human rights and election access. On her website, she promotes voter information, Syrian Youth, and Planned Parenthood.

She has said she had two abortions during high school, and that she should not have had unprotected sex with her boyfriend.

Patch reached out to Handler's handlers on Sunday to see if she had a response, and to ask why she believes her abortions kept her out of the Hall of Fame rather than her comments on her DUI, alcoholism, masturbation, weed-smoking, or taking Ambien with alcohol (under supervision).

Patch has not heard back from Handler or from Handler's handlers.

The high school said it's nothing personal — really.

"The district has reached back out to Ms. Handler’s representatives to find out if they can shed some light on the basis for Ms. Handler’s false statements," they said.

Handler graduated from Livingston High in 1993 (see the yearbook photo), the youngest of six children. Her father, gas station owner Seymour Handler, passed away four years ago.

In 2019, Handler released a new autobiography. She said at the time that she and a Livingston High boyfriend had been arrested for marijuana more than once — and that although he went to jail, she did not, which she attributed to white privilege.

These days, Handler's hoping to host a new talk show, and has pointed out that women are rare on late-night TV.

Keep reading Livingston Patch to find out what's up with Chelsea...lately.

Who else should be in the Hall of Fame? Comment below or email Livingston Patch.