Kyle Cooke Expresses "Concerns" for Estranged Wife Amanda Batula Amid Public Dispute
The "Summer House" star breaks his silence with a statement addressing his feelings about Batula and her boyfriend, West Wilson.
Kyle Cooke has voiced his "concerns" for his estranged wife, Amanda Batula, following a public dispute involving her boyfriend, West Wilson. Cooke, a star of "Summer House," addressed the situation in a statement shared to his Instagram Stories on Thursday, emphasizing his continued care for Batula.
"Despite our differences, I will always care about Amanda, and when it comes to people I care about, I fight hard," Cooke wrote, acknowledging that he sometimes "fights too hard." He added, "It’s been an emotional and frustrating situation, and I have let those feelings get the better of me at times. But that doesn’t mean my concerns aren’t valid."
Cooke's statement follows a critical comment he made on Wilson's Instagram, accusing him of destroying Batula's "life and career." The comment, which was later deleted, alleged Wilson was a "coke head."
Batula responded to Cooke's remarks by seemingly agreeing with a social media user who suggested Cooke was upset because Batula's departure from the show "In the City" meant he could no longer "control or manipulate her."
Batula confirmed on Thursday that she would not be returning for the second season of "In the City." She stated that the "continued hate from fan accounts and the internet" was a primary reason for her decision. "The bullying has been [too] intense, who would want to put their life out there for other’s entertainment when they’re constantly ripped apart and beaten down for every single thing they do," she communicated via direct message to a Bravo fan account.
Sources previously offered differing reasons for Batula's departure from "In the City," including creative differences with showrunners regarding filming with Wilson and salary disputes. A third insider suggested it was not the right time for Batula or Wilson to film.
Batula's exit from "In the City" comes several months after she departed "Summer House" after a decade. Her decision to leave "Summer House" followed Wilson's ousting from Season 11 of the show, reportedly due to his relationship with Batula. The pair announced their relationship two months after news of Cooke and Batula's separation became public in January, after four years of marriage. Wilson had previously been friends with Cooke and had dated Batula's close friend, Ciara Miller. The controversy surrounding their relationship reportedly led to their isolation from other cast members of "Summer House."