Alix Earle has publicly addressed the tension between herself and Alex Cooper, detailing a contentious relationship that led to Earle's podcast leaving Cooper's Unwell Network. In her new Netflix series, "Earle Meets World," which premiered Friday, Earle, 25, described Cooper, 32, as "toxic" and "sick and twisted." The show marks the first time Earle has openly discussed the rift with her former mentor.
Last February, Earle's "Hot Mess" podcast abruptly departed from Cooper's Unwell Network, a move that escalated into a public dispute. Earle shared excerpts of a text message she apparently drafted to Cooper, expressing deep dissatisfaction with their business dealings. "I don’t like you. I’m not gonna fall for your bait, getting into a back and forth online," part of the message read. "You are manipulative and toxic. Go ahead and say ‘it’s just business’ all you want, but the way you approach business is disgusting."
Earle accused Cooper of prioritizing money over ethics and taking advantage of her in the early stages of her career. "You chose money over morals. You took advantage of me at a young age in a new industry I knew nothing about. You are full of false promises and Unwell was a continuation of that," Earle wrote in the text. She further alleged that Cooper had threatened her during a phone call, warning her against conflict.
It remains unconfirmed whether Earle actually sent the message to Cooper or if it was kept as a draft. The message concluded with Earle stating, "You will no longer scare or trap me… I may be petty, but I’m not malicious. If there’s one thing I learned from doing business with you, it’s to never do business with anyone like you."
Escalation of the Feud
The rift between Earle and Cooper had been brewing for months. The situation intensified in April when Earle reshared a TikTok that characterized Cooper as an "ambulance chaser" and "grim reaper," alluding to the often intense subject matter of Cooper's podcast. Cooper responded with her own TikTok, accusing Earle of "passive-aggressive" behavior and calling her out by name. Cooper urged Earle to be more direct, stating, "Stop hiding behind other people and just say it yourself. What's the beef?"
Cooper expressed frustration with what she perceived as Earle using "fake drama" to divert attention from other online issues. "I know what happened and so do you... so talk. Unless the fake narrative that you are creating happens to be way more interesting than the truth," Cooper stated, adding that she had "nothing to hide."
Earle initially downplayed the conflict during an appearance on the "Today" show, describing the feud as "exaggerated" and emphasizing a desire for "positive vibes." However, the premiere of "Earle Meets World" brought the dispute back into the spotlight. At the Los Angeles premiere of her Netflix series, when asked about addressing the situation on camera, Earle made a veiled jab at Cooper's show, "Love Overboard," which had recently been canceled by Hulu. "You know, hers are getting canceled so... It is what it is," Earle remarked with a shrug and a smile.
Earle was one of the first talents signed by Cooper as she expanded her media company beyond her flagship podcast, "Call Her Daddy." She joined the Unwell Network in August 2023 to host "Hot Mess." However, the partnership soured, leading to the public dispute now detailed in Earle's new Netflix series.