Ali Wong’s latest Netflix special, titled “Single Lady,” which premiered on October 8, highlights her personal journey post-divorce, particularly her love story with Bill Hader. After ending her eight-year marriage to Justin Hakuta in 2022, Wong and Hader confirmed their relationship in April 2023 and have since been seen together at events like the Golden Globes and Emmys, where she won awards for her performance in the Netflix series “Beef.”
At the beginning of her special, Wong expresses her surprise at the intense media attention surrounding her divorce. She shares, “I didn’t expect the news of my divorce to be so widespread and public. I felt really embarrassed and ashamed, but I didn’t realize that all of these media outlets were acting like a Bat-Signal, letting all potentially interested men know that I was suddenly available. I’ve never been pursued this much in my life.”
One of the suitors who reached out was Hader himself, with whom Wong had only interacted at a few dinner parties. After receiving her number from a mutual friend, Hader confessed his feelings, saying, “Hey, Ali. I just happened to hear the news of your divorce today, and I gotta tell you…I’m excited. I have had a crush on you forever, and I actually told my best friend years ago that you were my dream girl. And I know this sounds crazy, but, uh, I want you to be my girlfriend.”
Wong humorously recounts that she had just signed up for a dating app the day before their conversation, joking, “I just paid $250. You seem really nice, but I gotta get my money’s worth.”
Following their initial phone call, Wong traveled to Europe, where she was greeted with a bouquet of flowers from Hader upon her arrival in London. This romantic gesture continued with elaborate flower arrangements in Amsterdam, Cologne, and Copenhagen. While her female friends were envious of the attention, Wong noted that her male friends expressed concern over Hader’s actions, saying, “That dude sounds like a psychopath,” reflecting a shift in perceptions of romance.
This contrast in interpretation parallels a discussion Hader previously had with the writers of his HBO series “Barry.” In one instance, Hader’s character, Barry, replaced a broken laptop for his crush, which the female writers deemed overly intense, while the male writers felt it was romantic.
As Wong navigates her newfound single life, she explores various relationships, including one with an unnamed “big, fancy movie director.” She admits to an initial focus on casual encounters but acknowledges the challenge of finding a meaningful connection with someone she respects and admires as an artist.