Chelsea Handler is no stranger to controversy.

The 41-year-old comedian, whose new Netflix show, Chelsea, debuted on May 11, has been causing a stir since 2014 when she first posed topless on Instagram.

Despite the backlash that ensued, Handler has continued to post topless images of herself in the name of gender equality.

Now, she explains why she believes women should have the right to go topless in public.

Handler began by saying, “There was never a moment when I was like, ‘I’m going to enter the public conversation on the importance of female nudity.'”

“I text my friends naked pictures of myself. I ruin group pictures by pulling a boob out. Everyone has seen me naked; good for them.”

“When I go on dates, I’m glad that we’ve gotten that out of the way so they already know what’s coming.”

The first naked picture of her that caused a stir was when she posed like Vladimir Putin shirtless on a horse.

 

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She said, “I was in Santiago horseback riding with my brother and cousin and thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be funny if we took a picture on this horse and mimicked Putin and put in on Instagram?'”

“I think nudity is funny, as long as you are doing something silly. I always try to make my pictures silly and funny. I am not lying on a bed trying to lure someone inside of me.”

Handler’s brother took the picture and posted it on Instagram, but it was taken down. They put it back up and it was taken down again, so they put it back up.

Handler’s brother pointed out the double standard, “Putin is topless in his photo, I was too, why should that be different? We’re both human beings.”

“We both have the same parts. Why is it different?”

Handler said, “Just because women have bigger breasts, we can’t be seen nude? We provide life and food to people and we’re shamed for that? If I was flat-chested would it be okay? If I’d had a mastectomy, would that be okay?

“Is it because we are going to arouse people that we can’t walk around with our boobs out? I wanted to desensitize it, so I [posted topless pictures of myself] over and over and over again.

“It shouldn’t make news when I pose naked. It should just be okay. If we want to walk around with our boobs out, I think that’s our prerogative.”

She believes desexualizing something is much more interesting than sexualizing it.

“It’s a fresher take, and I guess that’s the one difference—the only one—between Kim Kardashian and I. She’s trying to be sexy.”

“Putting yourself out there in that way has a different motivation. I’m trying to lessen the sexiness of it and make it an actual human body thing.”

 

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Handler went on to explain that posting nude pictures was not an impulsive move, but something that had been festering for years.

As the youngest of six kids, she grew up spending summers on Martha’s Vineyard and was always topless.

“All the pictures are of me in jean shorts, no shirt; with my brothers playing football. I remember one day, my dad came out on the balcony and said, ‘She’s getting little buds, shouldn’t we put a shirt on her?’

“And my mom said, ‘You put a shirt on that girl and she will never be the same.’ And she was right. Because the second I had to start wearing a shirt, I felt self-conscious.

“Then when I actually did get my boobs, they were too big. I was a tomboy and I felt embarrassed.”

Handler has never been comfortable with her body and believes that women should be more accepting of their bodies.

“I’ve never been the girl that loved my boobs—or my body—which is sad because we should always be happy and comfortable in our skin.”

“But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that our bodies are just vessels for our souls. They’re not something to be ashamed of, but something to be celebrated.”

She believes that society’s view on female nudity is outdated and it’s time for a change.

“We live in a society where women’s bodies are constantly sexualized and objectified.”

“We’re taught to be ashamed of our bodies and to hide them away. But why should we? Men walk around shirtless all the time and no one bats an eye.”

“Women should have the same right. We should be able to walk around topless in public without being judged or harassed.”

Handler wants to empower women to embrace their bodies and to be comfortable in their own skin.

“I want to break down the societal norms that say women’s bodies are something to be ashamed of.”

“I want to empower women to embrace their bodies, to be comfortable in their own skin, and to not be afraid to show their bodies to the world.”

“That’s why I continue to post topless pictures of myself, because I believe that it’s time for a change.”