Dozens of former BU women's soccer players sign letter supporting former coach after Alex Cooper allegations
Dozens of alumni from Boston University's women's soccer team have signed a letter supporting the team's former coach after she was accused by podcast star Alex Cooper of sexual harassment.
Cooper, host of the popular podcast 'Call Her Daddy,' alleged in her new Hulu docuseries 'Call Her Alex' that she endured years of sexual harassment from her college soccer coach, Nancy Feldman.
The letter, obtained by NBC News and first reported by TMZ Sports, is signed by 99 former BU women's soccer team members spanning graduation years from 1996 to 2022. Signatories included players and former assistant coaches. The letter stated that they aim to share their collective perspective 'not to diminish or discredit anyone's individual experience, but to speak as a united group of alumni about how our time in the program was different.'
'During Coach Feldman's time leading the program, we categorically never felt unsafe,' the letter stated. 'We were never at risk of or witness to inappropriate behavior or anything that could be characterized as sexual harassment. As a leader, she approached every day with professionalism, making decisions in service of the success of the team.'
The alumni added that Feldman has 'remained an important part of our lives, and we shall stand by her.'
In the two-part docuseries, Cooper alleged that Feldman 'fixated' on her, wanted to know whom she was dating, made comments about her body, put her hand on her thigh and wanted to be alone with her. She alleged Feldman once questioned her about a date and asked whether she had had sex the night before.
'Nancy Feldman was someone I trusted. Someone I believed in. Someone who was supposed to help me grow. Someone who was supposed to protect me,' Cooper wrote in an Instagram statement last week. 'But instead she made my life a living hell and abused her power over me.'
A representative for Cooper did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Cooper said in the docuseries that her parents backed up her accusations against Feldman, having written down every incident she told them about during her three years on the team. But when she reported the allegations to the athletic director, she said, no investigation resulted.
Cooper played on the team from 2013 to 2015, according to the BU women's soccer roster. Feldman, who retired in 2022 after 27 years at the university, did not respond to a request for comment at her former BU email.
Boston University did not respond to a request for further comment. But after the docuseries' release, the university had told NBC News that it has a 'zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment.'
'We have a robust system of resources, support and staff dedicated to student wellbeing and a thorough reporting process through our Equal Opportunity Office. We encourage members of our community to report any concerns, and we remain committed to fostering a safe and secure campus environment for all,' the school stated, without directly addressing Cooper's claims.
The 'Call Her Alex' docuseries, released earlier this month, is the first time Cooper has publicly come forward with her allegations since building a massive social media platform through her podcast empire.
'When this initially happened to me I felt like I had no voice. But that is no longer the case. Now I'm coming for all of you who abused your power over innocent young individuals,' Cooper wrote in last week's Instagram statement. 'Nancy Feldman, you will no longer be able to hide in the shadows and get away unscathed from the calculated pain you caused me and so many other women.'
She added that she is speaking out for anyone who also went through her experience and felt unheard.
'We will no longer be silenced. I'm ready to bulldoze through every f---ing door for all of you out there,' Cooper wrote. 'Because when I was 18 years old, dismissed and ignored by Boston University, I prayed and wished someone with a voice would have held my hand and helped me through the darkest time in my life.'
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Walz made clear, over X, who did reach out to offer support. 'My thanks to Premier Doug Ford of Ontario who called to express his condolences to the Hortman family and the people of Minnesota,' he said.' In times of tragedy, I'm heartened when people of different views and even different nations can rally together around our shared humanity.'
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Sen. Mike Lee deletes social media posts about the Minnesota shooting after facing criticism
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