Alex Cooper, host of the popular podcast 'Call Her Daddy,' has addressed explosive allegations made by her former Barstool Sports boss, Dave Portnoy, in his recent memoir. Portnoy claimed that Cooper and her former co-host Sofia Franklyn threatened to fabricate a sexual harassment complaint to break their contracts with Barstool.
Cooper, who appeared on CNBC's 'Squawk Box,' offered a brief response when questioned about Portnoy's claims. "Dave's got his version and I've got my version, and we're all good," she stated, attempting to downplay the situation. She described her relationship with Portnoy as "great and complicated," acknowledging his role in starting her career.
According to Portnoy's memoir, 'Cancel Me If You Can,' tensions arose in 2020 over contract negotiations. He alleged that Cooper and Franklyn stopped producing their podcast to exert pressure, leading to a potential breach of contract lawsuit. Portnoy detailed a meeting where he claims Cooper proposed a deal to leave Franklyn behind, and then allegedly threatened to accuse Barstool of sexual harassment.
Portnoy wrote that such an accusation, even if untrue, would have been difficult for Barstool to defend against in public opinion, given past criticisms of the company's content. He acknowledged the seriousness of his accusation about the alleged plot to break their contract by falsely claiming sexual harassment.
Cooper, who is pregnant with her first child, stated that Portnoy's account is not how she remembers the events. "I haven't read the book, but I remember seeing, obviously getting tagged in those things, and that's not how I remember that at all," she said. However, she declined to elaborate further, adding, "I'm in my mother era. I have no drama right now."
Cooper and Franklyn split from Barstool Sports in 2021, a move that was far from amicable. The 'Call Her Daddy' podcast initially fell under the Barstool umbrella before the hosts departed the company.
In a separate matter, Cooper alleged in her 2025 Hulu documentary that she experienced sexual harassment by her Boston University soccer coach during her time at the school. Boston University has stated that it has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment and a thorough reporting process through its Equal Opportunity Office.