Alex Cooper’s carefully crafted image as a champion of young women in media came under scrutiny this week. A bombshell report alleged that her husband and business partner, Matt Kaplan, created a workplace culture at Unwell that left employees feeling intimidated and, in some cases, in tears.
The allegations surfaced in a lengthy investigation that included interviews with more than 40 sources, including current and former employees of Cooper’s growing media company.
Alex’s husband Matt Kaplan might have some explaining to do after slur usage reports
For years, Alex Cooper built her “Call Her Daddy” brand around candid conversations and lifting the next generation of women. But according to the Vanity Fair report, several former staffers claimed the reality behind the scenes looked very different.
Employees alleged that Matt Kaplan, who serves as co-founder and co-CEO of Cooper’s media ventures, frequently yelled at workers, threatened careers, and used offensive language in the workplace. Several former employees claimed Kaplan referred to staff members as “stupid” or “retarded,” according to the outlet.
The report also included allegations that Kaplan crossed professional boundaries with younger employees. Multiple sources told the outlet that he asked questions about employees’ dating and sex lives, while others claimed he made comments about physical appearances.
One former employee described Kaplan’s leadership style as “the most toxic work environment that I’ve ever seen.” Another source alleged that he would “scream the worst things and say the nastiest things to you.”
The investigation painted a picture of a company where fear of retaliation discouraged employees from speaking openly. Several former workers reportedly worried that criticizing leadership could damage future opportunities in entertainment and media.
Vanity Fair further reported that both Cooper and Kaplan declined to participate in interviews for the story. However, a representative for the couple strongly denied the allegations, calling them “false and outrageous claims” and describing the article as a “meritless hit piece.”
The report arrived amid continued speculation surrounding Cooper’s public fallout with influencer Alix Earle, one of Unwell’s earliest podcast stars. While neither woman has publicly explained their split, former employees recalled Cooper telling staff in 2025, “We do not stand for mean girls at this company.”
Ironically, one anecdote from the report suggested otherwise. According to a former employee, when someone questioned whether a proposed move involving Earle seemed mean-spirited, Kaplan allegedly responded, “We’re all mean girls at this company. I’m the biggest mean girl of anyone.”
Whether the allegations ultimately impact Alex Cooper’s growing media empire remains to be seen. But the claims have sparked a deeper conversation that may be difficult to ignore.
TELL US – ARE YOU SURPRISED BY THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST MATT KAPLAN? DO YOU THINK THEY COULD AFFECT ALEX COOPER’S BRAND?
