Comedian Chelsea Handler's satirical video on 'a day in life of a childless woman' sparks debate

Editor's note: This article was originally published on February 17, 2023. It has since been updated.

Chelsea Handler is child-free by choice, and she has had to repeatedly defend her decision to those who are critical of her. She was the special guest host for "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central, and she shared a hilarious parody "mom vlog" video entitled “A Day in the Life of a Childless Woman.” This was a satirical take on the popular TikTok videos showing a mom of five starting her day before her kids wake up, working out, doing laundry and more.

In the video, Handler opens with her own version of a day in the life of a childless woman, saying, "I wake up at 6 a.m. I remember that I have no kids to take to school. So I take an edible, masturbate, and go back to sleep. I wake up at 12:30 p.m., and get ready for a busy day of doing whatever the f—k I feel like.” She then brags about wearing heels, traveling to Paris and Asia, and even killing Hitler, commenting sarcastically on the things she can do with her free time.

Many people reacted to her video, some even taking offense to her comedy. One user, @goon303wrote, "Sorry to break it to you anti-child folks that you missed out on the greatest experience life has to offer. Yeah, it’s cliche. But you’ll never know, will you? Even if I were a poet I could not explain the feeling of seeing your own child the first time in the delivery room." Political commentator and podcast host, Liz Wheeler, also said, "I wouldn’t trade my beautiful, sweet daughter for all the “self-love” in the world because you know what? “Self-love” is just materialism and self-idolatry. It’s nothing. It’s empty. It’s vapor in the wind. But the tiny precious soul I’m shepherding? That’s eternal. It’s real love.", said Liz Wheeler

Another user, @JustinTHaskins commented, "Yes, you’re really living your best life, aren’t you[?] Just to be clear, because it apparently needs to be said by parents, I wouldn’t trade 10,000 of your supposedly carefree childless days in Paris and sleep in until noon for one smile from my baby girl."

Many people, however, also came to her defense. "To be really extra clear, because it apparently needs to be explained to you, the video already builds a self-knowing comedy of exaggeration into itself, rendering your reaction moot and obtuse. But congrats on the baby girl!" said one user, @FeldmanAdam in response to @JustinTHaskins' comment. User, @UberCSGO, Michael Stapells also said, "A lot of people hating on this post, or insulting it. Nothing wrong with choosing to be child-free. 9 days from now, I’ll be unable to have children. I’ll still live my vision of a happy, fulfilling life. Stop shaming individuals for lifestyle choices that are none of your business!"

Handler's decision to be child-free is a personal one, and she stands by it. In the age of TikToks and videos of parents caring for their children, Handler's parody video is a reminder that not everyone wants to be a parent and that is perfectly okay. Handler's response to her critics is an example that no one should be shamed for their personal choices.