Alex Cooper appears to be reassessing several key partnerships that have been fundamental to her production company, Unwell.
The prominent podcaster and media entrepreneur is reportedly considering parting ways with her talent agency, UTA, as she expands her business ventures beyond her well-known podcast. This move is partly due to ongoing associations with Alix Earle and Dave Portnoy, influential figures who have had conflicts with her. Recently, Cooper also ceased operations of Unwell Beverage Co., a venture initiated last year in collaboration with Nestle SA, as reported by Bloomberg.
UTA has played a significant role in Cooper’s journey, facilitating the growth of Unwell and securing opportunities such as hosting interviews for Peacock during NBCUniversal’s 2024 Paris Olympics coverage and establishing her Unwell Network, a platform aimed at creators and influencers.
UTA opted not to provide any executive comments on the matter.
Any change in representation would follow Unwell’s first external investment from Patrick Whitesell, co-founder of WME and ex-executive chairman of Endeavor. Whitesell’s WTSL, an investment firm focusing on media, entertainment, and sports, invested an undisclosed amount valuing Unwell at $500 million, as per information released by Unwell on August 12. Cooper and her husband, Matt Kaplan, who self-funded the venture targeting Gen Z women, maintain majority ownership. Established in 2023, Unwell claims profitability from its inception and views the WTSL investment as a means for expansion. The company anticipates brand collaborations could rival the podcasting segment’s value by next year.
Unwell stated that WTSL’s involvement would bring “deep strategic expertise, industry relationships and a proven track record of supporting some of the most innovative companies and storytellers in media,” including Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions.
This investment came after exposĂ©s highlighted internal turmoil at Unwell. A Vanity Fair article in June included a freelancer’s claim that Kaplan “creates the most toxic work environment that I’ve ever seen.” Anonymous sources alleged Kaplan questioned employees about personal matters and commented on their appearances. Bloomberg reported in April that Kaplan “has earned a reputation for frequently yelling at staff members,” with employees reportedly seeking to leave.
In a Wall Street Journal interview at Cannes Lions in June, Cooper addressed these allegations, urging skepticism towards online claims. “I think everyone knows that at this point,” she remarked. Cooper added that Unwell’s success and employee satisfaction should be noted, while highlighting the challenges women face in the industry due to differing standards.
Earle, known for the podcast “Hot Mess” produced by Unwell, gained significant recognition from the venture. Despite their split, Cooper remained with UTA for a year. Dave Portnoy, Barstool Sports founder, claimed in his memoir that Cooper and her former co-host, Sofia Franklyn, plotted to accuse Barstool of harassment to exit a contract, which facilitated the launch of “Call Her Daddy.”
Todd Spangler contributed to this story.
