Amy Schumer opens up about her boyfriend, swimsuit cover controversy

I never had marriage as a goal, or having children. But I have an interest in making a commitment. —Amy Schumer, Actress. PHOTO BY RUBEN V. NEPALES

LOS ANGELES—“Last time I saw you, I was covered in dirt and blood,” Amy Schumer recalled our interview last year on the set of “Snatched” in Hawaii, which subs for Ecuador and Colombia.

“You know what I learned about dirt, it’s great contour,” she joked as she pretended to apply dirt like makeup to highlight and define her face.

“It’s like oh, I’ll put some on the cleavage,” she cracked, mock-applying dirt on her chest.

Amy and Goldie Hawn were playing kidnap victims in the comedy directed by Jonathan Levine.

Amy, never the fussy kind, talked to us on the Honolulu set in her grimy costume and appearance, and even allowed us to take photos. Other actresses would have flatly said, “No way!”

But that afternoon at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica, California, she looked all scrubbed up and pretty in an Alexander McQueen floral dress. “Thank you for saying I’m not dirty right now,” she jested.

The actress has been dating furniture designer Ben Hanisch for over a year now. She opened up about that relationship in our talk, as well as her reaction to the controversy that erupted after South Shore Swimwear owner and designer Dana Duggan slammed Amy on her InStyle swimsuit cover.

Amy’s fans came to her defense in reaction to Dana’s comment under South Shore Swimwear’s Instagram handle: “Come on now! You could not find anyone better for this cover? Not everyone should be in a swimsuit.” Dana posted her comment with a vomit emoji.

Amy Schumer (left) and Goldie Hawn in “Snatched”

Excerpts from our interview:

Aside from the chance to work with Goldie Hawn, why was this project important to you? I had an interest in communicating a love letter to my mother, just to say, I know I can be an asshole (laughs), that like every other daughter, I have taken you for granted. But I really wanted to say thank you and I’m sorry, and I know you did your best.

I’m also looking at it from a mom’s perspective, highlighting the fact that—in America—you are with your mother mostly for 18 years. Then, you’re supposed to be like, “Mom, I’m an adult. OK, bye!” So, I wanted to highlight that
relationship.

Speaking of cleavage, you have a scene where your character had a wardrobe malfunction. Was that improv or it was really in the script? Improv? Yeah, I just whipped my right tit out (laughs).

Have you had those malfunctions in real life? I feel like every day is a wardrobe malfunction for me. I added that scene to the script. I just thought it’d be funny, so we filmed it.

Can you talk about the controversy over your swimsuit photo on the cover of InStyle magazine? I don’t think anyone is impervious, but I don’t read it. So I feel like I don’t have complete ownership over who I am and things that get printed about me that aren’t true.

[On] the InStyle cover … I felt great in it. I was in that sweet spot of the month where I wasn’t super bloated (laughs).

In the movie, I’m in a bikini and, when I look at it, I don’t cringe. I go, ‘Oh, I look good. Good job, bitch (laughs)!’

But with that specific thing, there was this one woman who wrote this thing. I’m sure she’s a good person, but then the story got picked up—and she got so much flak for it. But, it’s also very sweet that people wanted to defend me. I have no ill will toward that woman.

There’s a lot of body shaming going on, but you have such confidence. When you were a teenager, what was it like? Being a teenager, for anyone, is a complete nightmare. Growing up, you see little girls and their bellies are out, and they don’t think about sucking in or whatever. I think I never had the moment where I lost that little girl. As a young woman, you feel good until somebody tells you otherwise.

In the movie, you were dumped by a Korean boyfriend (played by Randall Park). Yes (laughs). First of all, I think Randall Park is the most talented, hilarious person. But that breakup, I’ve always had the idea of a guy just being so honest.

What makes your relationship with your boyfriend, Ben, different from the ones you had before? I feel lucky.

As for my relationship now, the difference is, with the other guys I’ve dated, there was always this feeling of me dragging them up a hill. There was none of that with Ben. We’re so in love some days and other days, we want to kill each other (laughs).

But he was just ready to be a partner. He’s kind. He’s not ever mean.

Is marriage still a goal? I never had marriage as a goal, or having children. But I have an interest in making a commitment and saying, I’m going to stick with you and I’m not going to have sex with anybody else ever again (laughs).

I think I want kids. If you have kids, you have somebody else to worry about.

What do you and Ben enjoy doing together? We have lived together for over a year. I love his taste and sensibilities. We decorated our home together. We’ll get a new chair or something, and we’ll both be excited about it. It’s cool to date somebody with a job (laughs).

In your book (“The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo”), you wrote about how your relationship with your mom (Sandra) wasn’t always easy. What made you overcome those issues? Do you see your mom in yourself? Yes, of course. [As] with my mom, it’s a constant negotiation in our relationships with our parents until it’s not. I really appreciate that because my dad (Gordon) is sick (he has multiple sclerosis). It’s like you don’t know what’s going to happen.

My mom and I have such a connection. The emotional scenes in this movie that I wrote—they’re based on my relationship with mom, where it’s like, if I have a nightmare, I will just want to talk with my mom. I call, and she always answers. She’s just there.
I just want to be the best daughter I can be. You can feel so entitled and take your parents’ love for granted. [My mom and I] saw the movie together, and she loved it. We were both laughing, crying and holding hands.

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