Chelsea Handler Is Ending Her Netflix Series After Two Seasons

Chelsea Handler is stepping away from her hard-won Netflix series. 

Handler, whose Chelsea was the streaming service's first foray into talk shows, confirmed the news on Wednesday, releasing a statement on her social media accounts. She revealed that the decision to end the series after a two-season run comes from her desire to devote her energy to social and political activism. 

"Like so many across the country, the past presidential election and the countless events that have unfolded since have galvanized me. From the national level down to the grassroots, it's clear our decisions at the ballot box next year will mark a defining moment for our nation," said Handler (via Twitter). "For these reasons, I've decided not to return for another season of Chelsea, and instead devote as much time as I can to becoming a more knowledgeable and engaged citizen and to focus on projects that have significance to me. My goal is to be better informed, raise my voice, and participate in a more meaningful way. I want to travel the country and visit areas and people I don't know enough about, speak at colleges and listen to students, and gain a better understanding of our political divide. I have joined forces with EMILY's List to elect more women to public office, register people to vote, and campaign for candidates who are fighting for women's rights."

But it isn't all bleak news for the Handler-Netflix dynamic. Per Handler's statement, she will maintain a working relationship with the streaming giant as the two partner on an original documentary that spotlights her unique perspective on the ways of the world and the current, often tumultuous political landscape. 

"I'm excited to share that I will continue my partnership with Netflix, working together on a documentary where I'll engage with people I don't talk with enough – people of different ethnicities, religions and political philosophies," Handler explained. "Netflix could not be more understanding, and I'm grateful for their continued support."

Handler ended her statement by reassuring fans that "new episodes of Chelsea will continue to stream weekly until the end of this year."

Chelsea launched on Netflix back in May 2016, originally rolling out three new episodes per week, which ran between 20 and 40 minutes each. Original showrunner Bill Wolff (The View) stepped away from the series three weeks into the first season. From there, Handler took on solo responsibilities. The second season of Chelsea then shifted into a once-a-week, hourlong format.