Latest news with #Unwell
Business Insider
24-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Logan Paul's Prime sales plummet in a key market as the once-popular drink has growing pains
The hype for energy drink-maker Prime Hydration is drying up. When YouTubers Logan Paul and KSI launched the Prime brand in 2022, demand was so high that a secondary black market formed among UK school children. But the buzz didn't last. In 2024, the company's UK revenue fell about 70% from the previous year, according to public filings. The company pulled in around £33 million (roughly $45 million) in 2024 drink sales, compared to £120 million (about $163 million) the prior year. Consumer interest in its brand has moderated, the company wrote. It's entering a "strategic review process to transition from an initial hyper-growth phase to a more sustainable, long-term presence in the market," it said. Prime remained profitable in the UK in 2024, with about £312,000 in profit, a 92% drop compared to the previous year. There are indications that the heat has cooled off elsewhere, too. US sales declined through the first half of last year, according to estimates from the market insights firm Numerator. As of June 2024, Prime sales in the US were down 40% from the previous year, based on purchase data the firm compiled from its panel of 150,000 US consumers. Numerator attributed the decline to a lack of new buyers, as well as less frequent purchasing and a drop in spending per unit from existing customers. The decline in sales outpaced broader declines in sales in the energy drink and sports drink categories, the company said. Prime entered the global beverage market with a roar, bolstered by the marketing might of its social-media-famous cofounders. In 2023, Bloomberg reported that the company was profitable and set to hit $1.2 billion in sales that year, its first full year in business. The company, alongside other creator product lines like Alex Cooper's Unwell drinks or MrBeast's chocolate brand Feastables, shows the power of social media influencers to make a brand go viral. But influencer businesses can be fickle, and building a brand that can stand the test of time can be tough. Take fashion influencer Arielle Charnas' clothing brand Something Navy, which earned $32 million in revenue in its first year, but saw sales falter a couple of years later. "The upside of the influencer-led, social approach to beverage marketing is that it allows you to capitalize quickly on short-term cultural trends, leading to the huge surge," Euromonitor beverage analyst Howard Telford told BI in a statement last year. "But there is a big risk that this turns into a short-term viral fad unless the product itself (rather than the celebrity of the founders) can serve a real consumer need." Prime's vendors have sued, alleging missed payments Prime's business woes have extended beyond its declining drink sales. Several of the company's vendors filed lawsuits against it, saying Prime had failed to meet its contract commitments. Last year, one of Prime's suppliers sued Prime's parent company for $68 million. Refresco, a beverage-bottling company, accused Prime of breaching a 2023 contract in which it committed to ordering 18.5 million cases annually over three years. Prime sales were "falling well below" expectations, Refresco's lawyer wrote in the complaint, blaming the decline on "fading social media buzz" and a series of lawsuits. The case was eventually dismissed on the grounds of jurisdiction. Another vendor, Agrovana, also sued Prime last year. The Massachusetts-based importer, which provides Prime with ingredients, accused the beverage brand of not paying for products it had ordered in binding purchase agreements. "Sometime in early 2024 or thereabouts, sales of Prime's drinks sputtered, apparently as a result of normal seasonal fluctuations, of the fading popularity of Paul and KSI, and diminishing effectiveness of its on-line marketing," the complaint says. It alleged the company experienced "cash-flow issues" and was "working to secure credit lines to pay the outstanding invoices." Prime denied the allegations, requested the complaint be dismissed, and submitted a counterclaim, alleging Agrovana did not comply with quality standards. In response, Agrovana said that "Prime's complaints were motivated by its inability to sell its finished product as a result of factors that Agrovana had nothing to do with." The case is ongoing.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Call Her Alex': How to Watch Alex Cooper's Two-Part Documentary Online
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. Alex Cooper is used to harvesting intimate stories out of her guests on 'Call Her Daddy' but the podcaster is finally in the hot seat herself in a new documentary that premiered at Tribeca Film Festival this week. The two-part doc is now available to stream on Hulu, currently offering a free trial. More from Variety Alex Cooper Alleges She Was Sexually Harassed by Boston University Soccer Coach Nancy Feldman, Which Led Her to Podcasting So 'No One Could Ever Silence Me Again' Alex Cooper Is Far More Interesting Than Her Hulu Docuseries 'Call Her Alex': TV Review 'Call Her Daddy' Host Alex Cooper Sets Hulu Docuseries 'Call Her Alex' stream 'call her alex' on hulu Free Trial Directed by Ry Russo-Young, the series offers a layered portrait of Cooper—tracing her journey from a bullied middle-schooler in Pennsylvania to a Division I soccer player at Boston University, and ultimately to the helm of a transformative $125-million podcasting empire Childhood home-video clips, candid footage from her 2023 'Unwell' tour and intimate scenes from her April 2024 wedding to film producer Matt Kaplan bring viewers closer than ever to the public figure known as 'Daddy Gang's' fearless leader The documentary is not without its emotional core. In part one, Cooper bravely reveals a deeply traumatic chapter from her time on the Boston University soccer team, accusing her former coach, Nancy Feldman, of prolonged sexual harassment and alleging that university officials failed to act on her complaints. Clips show Cooper returning to the campus soccer field, visibly retraumatized, as she recounts the experience she says robbed her of her identity and her sport 'Every time I stepped back on that field, I felt so small,' Cooper shared during a post-screening Q&A at Tribeca Film Festival this week. She and her parents documented the harassment in writing and even confronted the university's athletic department—only to be met with silence. That decision ultimately led Cooper to leave the team before her senior year and sparked a desire to 'bulldoze through every f—— door' for survivors like herself Beyond the trauma, 'Call Her Alex' examines Cooper's savvy business mindset. The doc tracks her pivot from steamy sex podcasts to a mainstream media empire, culminating in major deals with SiriusXM and the launch of Unwell Network and Unwell Hydration. However, some critics argue that the series favors narrative polish over raw honesty. 'While 'Call Her Alex' ties all the threads to Cooper's story in a neat bow,' Variety TV critic Aramide Tinubu writes in here review, 'the woman and the brand she's built have already usurped this simplistic tale.' Stream 'Call Her Daddy' below: stream 'call her alex' on hulu Free Trial Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Alex Cooper Reveals Why It Took Her 10 Years to Come Forward with Sexual Harassment Allegations
In her new docuseries Call Her Alex, Alex Cooper came forward with claims of sexual harassment by her college soccer coach Nancy Feldman The Unwell media network founder continued to discuss her allegations in a new episode of Call Her Daddy, in which she claims she met women who went through the same thing at Boston University Cooper said these similar stories made her realize "without a doubt" that she had to tell her story in the docuseries, though it took her a decade to publicly speak about her claimsAlex Cooper is continuing to open up about her claims that she was sexually harassed by one of her college soccer coaches. The Unwell media network founder first came forward with the allegations in her new Hulu docuseries, Call Her Alex. In the two-part Hulu special — which premiered at Tribeca Festival on June 8 — Cooper, 30, claimed she was sexually harassed by coach Nancy Feldman while attending Boston University. In the docuseries, Cooper said she noticed Feldman "really starting to fixate on me, way more than any other teammate of mine, and it was confusing," during her sophomore year of college. "[It] was all based in her wanting to know who I was dating, her making comments about my body and her always wanting to be alone with me," Cooper claimed in the doc. Feldman, Boston University and the school's athletic department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on Tuesday, June 10. In her most recent installment of Call Her Daddy, the podcast host continued to discuss the allegations, explaining why it took her "a decade to tell this story" and why she decided to include it in her docuseries. Cooper admitted that she was "afraid of retaliation" before coming forward. "I also worried people would downplay or dismiss the severity of what I experienced because the abuse wasn't physical," she added. "And with a podcast that focuses on empowering women, I felt shame that my abuser happened to be a woman." In the 8-minute episode — which dropped on Tuesday, June 10 — Cooper continued, "I was worried that sharing my story could quite literally undermine everything I stand for." She also recalled how she hesitated to discuss her traumatic experiences while filming in Boston during a stop on her live podcast tour. It was the Call Her Alex director, Ry Russo-Young, who urged her to explore the possibility. "I had told the director that I wasn't sure I wanted to get into what happened to me in college in this documentary. I figured, let's keep it light. Let's keep it fun. Let's just approach it with a more positive energy," said the media mogul. "She was obviously extremely supportive and understanding." Cooper continued to share how Russo-Young encouraged her to return to the university to see what type of emotions it inspired. "The minute I stepped on that field, I felt so small. Money, power, status, followers, years of therapy, none of it mattered. I felt like I was 18 years old again, completely powerless with no voice," Cooper said during this week's Call Her Daddy. "I didn't realize how much I had suppressed and how much I was still carrying with me." Toward the end of filming the docuseries, Cooper said "new information came to light" that compelled her to come forward: "I immediately knew without a doubt that it was time for me to speak up," she explained. "I found out that other women had stepped onto that same field and experienced the same harassment I did. I discovered that the abuse and trauma I had been subjected to at Boston University was still actively happening on that campus in 2025, a decade after I left," Cooper alleged. "I spoke directly with one of the victims. Everything changed for me that day. And it really put in perspective that the harassment and abuse of power was and is so much bigger than me." She grappled with the "systemic" aspect of the issue and ultimately realized she needed to step up as an example for others. By opening up about the allegations in Call Her Alex, Cooper is both sharing her own story and speaking to "what women continue to endure everywhere, every single day," she said on her hit podcast. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Alex Cooper Shares the 1 Part of Her Docuseries That Makes Her Cry 'Every Time'
On Sunday, June 8, Alex Cooper attended the premiere of Call Her Alex at the Tribeca Festival in New York City During a Q&A session, she explained that the series was her way of giving fans a more complete picture of who she is The project originally began as behind-the-scenes footage from her Unwell Tour. However, as filming progressed, the scope of the series expanded Alex Cooper has long been an open book online — but with her new Hulu docuseries, she wanted to go even deeper. On Sunday, June 8, the Call Her Daddy host, 30, attended the premiere of Call Her Alex at the Tribeca Festival in New York City. During a Q&A session, she explained that the series was her way of giving fans a more complete picture of who she is and what her daily life truly looks like. The project directed by Ry Russo-Young originally began as behind-the-scenes footage from her Unwell Tour, which kicked off in late 2023 at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway in Boston, Mass. However, as filming progressed, the scope of the series expanded. Cooper found herself navigating significant life changes — from launching her media company, Unwell, to planning her wedding with film producer Matt Kaplan. The couple, who first met over Zoom in 2020, tied the knot on April 6, 2024, in Riviera Maya, Mexico. "When you're filming a documentary, there is a level of exposure that I wasn't used to if you're seeing me in my kitchen and I'm not just doing it for TikTok," she said during the Q&A. "You're really seeing me in my life with my husband. I know you guys know how private Matt and I usually are, but I think this was a goal to show a little bit more." She added, "In the second episode, you will see parts of our vows from our wedding, which makes me cry every time." Although Cooper filmed her entire wedding for the docuseries, much of it didn't make the final cut. 'I was filming it and I'm like, 'Okay, these people don't need to see my whole f------ wedding,'' she said. 'But it was so fun to rewatch it. I hadn't seen the footage and when I got the footage I was like, oh my God, this is so beautiful." But for Cooper, opening up on camera for this project came with challenges — particularly giving up her usual editorial control. When it comes to Call Her Daddy, she explained that she's used to setting up the cameras herself, then exporting, editing and uploading the content on her own. "Sometimes it's my favorite part," she said during the Q&A. "Matt always jokes and he's like, if you could not be on camera and you could just be the editor, I feel like you'd be the happiest person in the world. I love it. It's just been who I am to my core." "But I think it was good that I didn't do the edit — or you probably would've never seen this because it would've taken me 19 years and I would've said, it's not perfect. We can't put it out yet. So thank God someone took it away from me," she added. "So to have Ry there with the full camera crew and cameras in my face — people that I don't know — it definitely elicited a bit of nervousness within me because I am trusting, but I've always had the control," she said. "So to hand the keys over to this woman, I was like, please don't f--- my life up. And she did it. We made it." Call Her Alex premieres on Hulu on June 10, with both episodes dropping at once. Read the original article on People
Metro
04-06-2025
- Business
- Metro
Alex Cooper's net worth as her podcast empire expands with major new deal
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Alex Cooper is set to open up about her career as she is set to appear in a two-part docuseries. A new trailer from Hulu titled Call Her Alex has been released and will explore the Call Her Daddy podcaster, who has gone from success to success in recent years. The synopsis reads: 'Alex Cooper is at the top of her game, signing one of the biggest deals in podcast history. 'This revealing two-part docuseries gives audiences a behind-the-scenes, intimate look at her journey and the defining moments that shaped her influential voice. All episodes of Call Her Alex stream June 10 on Hulu.' Alex, 30, founded the podcast in 2018 and since its inception has welcomed the likes of Kamala Harris, Hailey Bieber, Miley Cyrus, and Chelsea Handler. The series will explore her recent multi-million dollar deal that saw the podcaster rake in the big bucks. In August 2024 it was reported that the podcaster was set to sign a massive contract with SiriusXM in August be worth around $125m. Before this, Alex had signed a $60m three-year deal with Spotify. Speaking about why she moved on from the brand, she explained that she wanted to grow the podcast, and her brand Unwell. 'The brand had only grown since being at Spotify,' she told Forbes in December 2024. 'I knew the money would be there. The deal was more about what other things people can give Call Her Daddy and Unwell that will help us grow.' The star has also previously revealed that she once turned down a brand deal worth $8m. Speaking to Harry Jowsey on his Boyfriend Material podcast, a show on Cooper's Unwell network, she revealed she turned down the mega deal as she didn't want to 'put her face next to' the brand. It was estimated by CEO Today that in March 2025, Alex was worth around $25m. Page Six also estimated in April 2025 that the star was worth $22m. In the trailer, Alex spoke about her early life and how she was encouraged to be outspoken as a child. More Trending 'I was fortunate to grow up in a household where it was normalised to speak your mind,' she said. 'Playing sports and making videos in my basement, those were the two things I really loved.' The trailer suggests that the film will pick into some of the more challenging parts of Alex's life as she reflects on how she got to where she is now. Call Her Alex debuts on Disney Plus on June 10. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson 'quietly split' after seven-year relationship MORE: Billy Joel, 76, adamant he is 'not dying' after brain condition diagnosis MORE: Sabrina Carpenter fans convinced she's taking aim at ex Barry Keoghan in new song
