Alex Cooper is stepping away from another major part of her rapidly expanding Unwell empire.
The “Call Her Daddy” host will not appear on the second season of “Unwell Games.” She had been much more visible during season one of “Unwell Winter Games,” which aired in April.
Alex Cooper and Matt Kaplan’s business partnership began after they met over Zoom in 2020 and later expanded through Trending, the Unwell Network, and the Unwell Creative Agency.
Cooper will not be gracing the “Unwell Games” season 2. The host, Adam Waheed, addressed it in the season premiere on Monday, September 7, by calling to ask where she was.
“In case you haven’t heard, I am super pregnant,” the 32-year-old said over the phone before telling him he was on his own, and she did not appear again throughout the episode. She assured him that the group she assembled would “blow your mind” and told him to get going.
The new season was also filmed for over four days at a luxury ranch in Canada; the competition brings exes, rivals, friends, and familiar faces together under one roof. The contestants are competing for a $250,000 cash prize.
The cast includes “Love Overboard” stars Beau Bailey and Tim Demirjian, creators Chad Batchelder and Brandon Edelman, and “Unwell Winter Games” alum Hallie Batchelder. Suede Brooks, Kassy Castillo, Pepe Garcia, Daniela Ortiz, Blake Gray, Carly Lawrence, Zarah Kelleher, Becca Moore, Dejon Noel-Williams, Jourdan Riane and Jimmy Sotos are also competing.
Season one previously featured personalities including Demi Engemann, Huda Mustafa, Anna Delvey, Juliette Porter, Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu, Eyal Booker, Hannah Stocking, Alissa Violet, Joe Amabile, Serena Pitt, Louis Russell and Saraya Bevis. Cooper remains involved behind the scenes as an executive producer alongside Kaplan, Mina Lefevre and Eric Detwiler.
The season also features commentary from Cameron Gerrard and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu, while Kaplan said the response to “Winter Games” reinforced the opportunity to create more original YouTube formats. US Magazine shared that the next episode is scheduled to air on YouTube on September 9.
The Expecting Mom’s Unwell Brand Suffered Two Cancellations This Year
Disney canceled “Love Overboard,” the Unwell Productions dating series, after just one season. The nine-episode Hulu series premiered in March and followed 22 singles searching for romance aboard a yacht. The cancellation arrived shortly after the reported shutdown of Unwell’s beverage business.
Despite the cancellation, Cooper’s relationship with Disney reportedly remains intact. The company still has a good relationship with the podcaster.
It is developing other projects with her, including the Hulu drama “You Deserve To Know,” starring Nina Dobrev and Paul Wesley. The development suggests the “Love Overboard” cancellation does not necessarily represent the end of Cooper’s television ambitions.
Unwell also recently received an investment from Patrick Whitesell’s firm, WTSL, which reportedly valued the company at $500 million. The brand continues to move forward with projects despite the reality-show cancellation and beverage shutdown.
The Blast also reported that Unwell’s pipeline includes “Unwell Winter Games,” Netflix’s “Icebreaker” adaptation, and “Let’s Marry Harry,” on which Cooper serves as an executive producer.
More From The Blast
Alex Cooper Wanted To Make Authentic Choices
During a 2024 interview with EatingWell, the podcaster explained that she has always been intentional about making her career choices feel authentic.
Cooper stressed that she would never attach her name to a product just to make money. “I have been so, so, so specific about everything I’ve done in my career,” she said.
She explained that much of her brand was built around being intentional about whether something felt authentic to her. Her experience as an athlete also influenced the idea behind the venture. Cooper also recalled that hydration was once central to her dietary needs.
Cooper opened up about her broader approach to eating well during the interview. She said her favorite breakfast includes eggs, turkey bacon, and English muffins with hot sauce, while cutting back on coffee and sweet snacks has helped her find more balance.
She added that nourishment should remain the priority, with protein being particularly important to her after growing up with the demanding eating schedule that came with being an athlete, as reported by The Blast.
‘Call Her Daddy’ Success Helped Build ‘Unwell’
Three years after signing a $60 million three-year deal with Spotify, she secured an even larger three-year deal with SiriusXM in 2024. The second deal was worth twice as much as her Spotify agreement. Cooper originally started “Call Her Daddy” with a friend in 2018.
The podcast gained significant momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Before that success, she revealed that she had gone on dates with sugar daddies to help pay rent after losing her advertising job at Gotham Magazine.
Cooper also credited her husband, Kaplan, with helping bring the Unwell Network to life through his experience running a film and television business. Kaplan reportedly contributed both intellectually and financially while Cooper brought her expertise in talent-based content to the partnership.
Cooper also emphasized that she wanted Unwell to create an environment where women could grow and feel supported. Together, their efforts helped expand the company from a single podcast into a broader media network.
Alex Cooper’s Empire Has Faced Pressure From Bad Press
On May 4, The Blast reported that the controversy intensified after attention shifted from Cooper’s dispute with former collaborator Alix Earle toward allegations about Kaplan’s behavior at their company, Trending.
A recent investigation accused Kaplan of creating a difficult workplace environment by allegedly threatening employees with affecting their future Hollywood opportunities.
The reports also described complaints involving Unwell Winter Games and Cooper’s 2023 live tour. One crew member allegedly broke down in tears, while a production manager reportedly nearly quit over concerns about Kaplan allegedly yelling and swearing at staff.
Several high-level executives have also reportedly left the company within the past year, despite Unwell’s creative agency employing around 100 people.
The scrutiny has reportedly extended into Cooper and Kaplan’s marriage. A source claimed significant tension between the couple and alleged they no longer slept in the same room.
Another insider said Kaplan’s behavior changed after they moved in together and claimed he now plays a dominant role in Cooper’s business decisions.
Alex Cooper remains deeply involved in the Unwell operation as she prepares for motherhood and decides what comes next.
