Outrage Watch: Chelsea Handler slams former ‘Lately’ writer and co-star Heather McDonald

Welcome to Outrage Watch, HitFix's semi-regular rundown of entertainment-related kerfuffles. Not anxious enough already? Get your fix of righteous indignation below, and stay posted for outrage updates throughout the week.

Chelsea Handler is making sure former Chelsea Lately writer and performer Heather McDonald continues to live in fear of her.

Responding to McDonald's interview on Matt Weiss and Theo Von's Allegedly podcast, in which she said that she “lived in fear” of her former boss and doesn't “agree with how she treats relationships in her life” — a reference to Handler cutting personal ties with her — Handler told Howard Stern on Tuesday's show that she stopped socializing with McDonald  because the comedian “trad[ed] stories” about her to Us Weekly in exchange for printing photos of McDonald in the magazine. 

“I could have fired her, I did not fire her. She had a job for four more years,” said Handler, clearly angry about McDonald's comments. “I never hung out with her personally again. So I hope she was living in fear.”

As to McDonald voicing disappointment that she had to find out about Handler leaving E! from a third party, Handler took umbrage at the suggestion that she should keep her writers abreast of her career plans.

“Why the fuck would I talk to her about what I was doing?” Handler railed. “She's a writer on my show, she's not my partner.”

Handler continued her tirade on Jenny McCarthy's SiriusXM radio show, saying that McDonald “would never say anything to my face. She would only say that on the radio. She would never. Cause she's fucking scared and she should be. Now she should really be scared…what a loser.”

Praying for you, Heather.

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