Latest news with #UnwellNetwork
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Alix Earle Says Departure from Alex Cooper's Unwell Network Was a 'Hot Mess' Behind the Scenes
Alix Earle opened up about her Hot Mess podcast's pause during an interview with the Wall Street Journal published on Thursday, May 22 The social media star described the behind-the-scenes as a "hot mess," a nod to the title of the podcast formerly backed by Alex Cooper's Unwell Network Earle's comments come approximately two months after she announced Hot Mess' hiatus for the "foreseeable future" on March 26What's the saying ... Art imitates life? Alix Earle described her now-defunct Hot Mess podcast as just that — a "hot mess" — when attempting to explain to the Wall Street Journal about the production politics that led to the show's hiatus for the foreseeable future. Hot Mess was backed by Alex Cooper's Unwell Network, the media startup that signed Earle, 24, as one of its first stars in 2023. Episodes were released for over a year, but then the relationship between her and the media company began to unravel, leading to the podcast's pause on March 26. At the time, fans speculated a fallout between the two women, however, Cooper, 30, put the rumors to rest to clarify that the Unwell Network is not the reason behind Earle's decision to halt Hot Mess. "Alix not being able to podcast has nothing to do Unwell," Cooper wrote on TikTok at the time. "[I don't know] why she can't/what's going on." Related: Dancing with the Stars Names Alix Earle as Second Celebrity Contender for Mirror Ball Trophy in Season 34 Cooper — who did not comment for WSJ's feature — previously clarified that "Unwell gave [Alix] everything back" and that Earle "owns her IP," noting she "learned from the best" before tagging Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy. That being said, Earle admitted to the WSJ that it has been a process to get everything back in her hands. "That was, behind the scenes, a little bit of a hot mess," Earle said in her digital cover story. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Elsewhere in the interview, Earle offered her fans a glimmer of hope about her podcast's return, noting that they have "plans to bring things back" in an elevated way. "It might look a little different, but I'm excited to see what we do with it," she added. In the meantime, Earle has been uploading vlog-style videos to her YouTube channel. She gives her viewers an in-depth look at her life alongside her siblings, parents, friends and NFL boyfriend, Braxton Berrios. She also recently appeared on another SI Swim issue this year, which she celebrated at the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit launch party red carpet on May 15, at The Hard Rock Hotel in New York City. Related: Alix Earle Shares Update on Texas Plans Ahead of Braxton Berrios' NFL Season with New Team (Exclusive) Later this year, Earle is set to be a contestant on the upcoming season 34 of Dancing with the Stars. She officially announced the news on Good Morning America on Thursday morning, becoming the second celebrity casting revealed after Robert Irwin. The social media star attended DWTS last November when the show taped its milestone 500th episode. In a GRWM video posted prior, she told her 7.5 million TikTok followers that she was "so excited" to be in the audience because she is "such a fan of the show." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Alix Earle Teases 'Lots of Plans' After Pausing Her 'Hot Mess' Podcast for the Unseeable Future
Alix Earle teased her future career plans on the Kentucky Derby red carpet after announcing the pause of her podcast. The social media star teased she'd be down to try acting. Earle, who attended the Kentucky Derby with her boyfriend Braxton Berrios, has been putting out weekly vlogs instead of podcasting. Alix Earle is plotting. The social media star, 24, isn't showing any signs of slowing down since pausing her Hot Mess podcast last month, and told E! News that there's a lot in the works for her career in the future. "[I have] lots of plans, lots of dreams," Earle told the outlet on the Kentucky Derby red carpet at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 3. The TikTok personality didn't mention any specific plans, nor did she confirm or deny exactly what she had in the works but had a good reason for keeping mum. "I don't want to jinx anything," said Earle, who attended Kentucky Derby weekend with her boyfriend Braxton Berrios. Related: Alix Earle's Hot Mess Podcast Subtly Addresses Departure from Alex Cooper's Unwell Network Earle was then asked about venturing outside of the podcasting world to pursue another medium completely, to which she teased the potential of making a transition from the tiny screen to the big screen one day. "I think acting is fun,' she shared. "I would love to explore that." View this post on Instagram A post shared by E! News (@enews) Earle announced on TikTok on March 26 that she was taking a break from podcasting. "I have to put a pause on podcasting now for the foreseeable future," she said at the time. In the video, she said that she couldn't "get into the details" of why the podcast was paused, but shared that she would be putting out "weekly vlogs" for her fans instead. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. With lack of an explanation for pausing her podcast upon first announcing the news, rumors of a feud started to swirl between Earle and Alex Cooper, founder of the media company Unwell Network that formerly backed Hot Mess. Cooper, though, was quick to squash speculation that the podcast network was behind the Hot Mess pause with a post on her Instagram Stories and TikTok that same day. Related: Alix Earle Pausing Hot Mess for 'Foreseeable Future' — Alex Cooper Says Her Unwell Network 'Has Nothing to Do with' It "Alix not being able to podcast has nothing to do Unwell," the Call Her Daddy host wrote. "[I don't know] why she can't/what's going on." Cooper also clarified that "Unwell gave [Alix] back everything" and that Earle "owns her IP," noting she "learned from the best" and tagged Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy. Variety first reported that Cooper's Unwell Network dropped Earle and her podcast on Feb. 25. The outlet also confirmed that Cooper's network renounced their rights to Hot Mess and that SiriusXM will no longer sell ads for the show. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hulu doc about ‘Call Her Daddy' host Alex Cooper premiering at Tribeca
NEW YORK — 'Call Her Daddy' host and creator Alex Cooper is getting the docuseries treatment over at Hulu, debuting at this year's Tribeca Film Festival. The two-part 'Call Her Alex' will have its world premiere at the New York City fest on June 8, two days before dropping on the streamer, according to a press release Tuesday. The doc will look at 'what it takes to become the most influential female podcaster of a generation' ahead of 30-year-old Cooper's first live tour. 'Call Her Alex' gives audiences 'an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the life-defining events that shaped Cooper's journey' and is 'a portrait of a woman creating a space where women feel seen, heard, and empowered.' Cooper, who founded the Unwell Network in 2023, and director Ry Russo-Young will have a post-screening conversation. Cooper also shared the news on Instagram, calling it 'such an honor' to have the project premiere at Tribeca. 'What started as a project documenting the Unwell Tour in 2023 has grown into something so much bigger than I could have ever imagined,' said Cooper. 'I cannot wait to share it with you.' 'Call Her Daddy,' which launched in 2018 with Cooper and former co-host Sofia Franklyn, sees the former chat with everyone from former Vice President Kamala Harris during her bid for the White House, to Khloé Kardashian and Chappell Roan.
New York Post
25-04-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Phia's Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni are creating a new kind of founder
The fashion industry is the world's second largest producer of greenhouse gases and environmental pollutants, behind only the oil and gas industry. It's also rife with waste and excess, having already produced enough apparel to clothe the next six generations. Now, two recent Stanford graduates are trying to make fashion more sustainable by improving the secondhand shopping experience. On Thursday, Phoebe Gates, 22, and Sophia Kianni, 23, launched Phia, an app and desktop tool that aggregates secondhand and retail shopping options from across the internet. 'It's like 'Google Flights' for fashion,' Kianni told me. 'Phia finds you the best price in one click … and allows you to really easily price compare.' 4 Phoebe Gates (left), 22, and Sophia Kianni, 23, are trying to make fashion more sustainable by improving the secondhand shopping experience. Brian Zak/NY Post She added, 'How do you know that you're not getting scammed? How do you know it's actually the best price possible? We built the tool that we wish had existed back when we were in college,' While the pair only recently graduated from Stanford, they already have more accolades than many people twice their age. Kianni is founder of the world's largest youth-led climate nonprofit, Climate Cardinals, and is the youngest United Nations advisor. Gates interned at British Vogue and has become a notable voice in reproductive rights — speaking at events such as Global Citizen and being named the Reproductive Freedom for All's Champion of the Year last year. She is also the daughter of Bill and Melinda Gates. While Phia is their first priority — they were up with their team until 3 a.m. working out bugs the night before our interview — they're not just trying to change the way people shop, they're also trying to be more transparent about the founder experience. In early April, they launched 'The Burnouts,' a podcast on 'Call Her Daddy' founder Alex Cooper's Unwell Network that chronicles their entrepreneurial experiences. 4 In early April, they launched 'The Burnouts,' a podcast on 'Call Her Daddy' founder Alex Cooper's Unwell Network that chronicles their entrepreneurial experiences. Getty Images for Roc Nation 'We really felt that there was a huge white space in the market … When you look at Founder Podcasts, it's always experts who've sold their companies, who've achieved all this,' Gates told me. 'But I wanted someone who was just starting out, who was a noob, asking all the questions that everyone else felt were too dumb to ask.' She added, 'One thing for us that's been really important is shedding some light on what the founder experience is actually like.' Listening to episodes of 'The Burnouts' (a title many of us can relate to) is less 'How I Built This' and more how in the world do I build this?! In the first episode, Gates and Kianni tell guest Kris Jenner about some of their failed business ideas, including a bluetooth tampon, and some of their hacks, such as creating a fake assistant to give them more credibility. 4 In the first episode, Gates and Kianni tell guest Kris Jenner about some of their failed business ideas, including a bluetooth tampon, and some of their hacks, such as creating a fake assistant to give them more credibility. Bre Johnson/ While the podcast reveals the challenges and realities of starting something new, it's also been launched on a platform with over 34 million listeners — many of whom are young women in Phia's target demographic. Talking about themselves is good promotion for the fashion app. 'A really critical piece of marketing is this founder-led growth and pulling back the curtain on what it's like to be a founder and to learn,' Gates said. Understanding what they're best suited for, has been key. 'We had all these ideas in these different industries that are fascinating, but it really was this question of are we the right people to build this thing? I remember one thing we discussed was electric cruise ships for shipping … But are we the right people to build that?,' Gates said. 4 Phoebe Gates said her father, Bill Gates, has advised her but she hasn't looked to him for Phia funding. AFP via Getty Images She added, 'This entire industry of fashion tech is fascinating to me. Women are spending a huge amount of money on shopping, and the fact we're not delivering a personalized experience to them that's good for their wallets and the world is crazy to me.' While Gates has nothing but appreciation for her family, she is focused on making her own name in the tech world — and far more eager to talk about her own work than her family's. This story is part of NYNext, an indispensable insider insight into the innovations, moonshots and political chess moves that matter most to NYC's power players (and those who aspire to be). When raising funding for Phia, she didn't look to her parents. (The cap table is private, but Kris Jenner revealed she is on it). 'We don't want this to be something that's funded by my family — we want this to be a real company,' Gates told me. 'That's really important for us … while I have a ton of privilege coming from my family, it's about having a product that stands on its own.' Growing up, it was always clear that she would make her own way. 'Seeing the example that my parents led with the foundation and their own work has been an incredible example to me,' she said. 'There was never an expectation that we were gonna not work the rest of our lives.' Earlier this month, her father very pointedly said that he isn't trying to turn his family into a dynasty. Perhaps that is why Gates and Kianni are seeking to build theirs. Send NYNext a tip: nynextlydia@
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Alex Cooper Predicts When Harry Jowsey Will Get Married
Alex Cooper can hear wedding bells in Harry Jowsey's near future. During her guest appearance on the first anniversary podcast episode of Boyfriend Material with Harry Jowsey on Tuesday, April 22, Cooper made a few predictions about the reality TV star's love life. Jowsey — who has starred on Too Hot to Handle, Perfect Match and Dancing with the Stars — has been called out by some of his castmates for being a "f--- boy" due to his past behavior. He's had failed relationships with Francesca Farago, Jessica Vestal, Georgia Hassarati and others. On the podcast, Cooper, 30, praised Jowsey, 27, for his efforts to be a changed man. She noted he's "getting there" to be "boyfriend material," but admitted he has "a little bit more work to do." "But I feel like the minute you're there, it's less boyfriend material and you're f------ husband material," said Cooper, who last year added Jowsey's podcast to the Unwell Network, which is a subsidiary of Trending, the Gen Z media company that the Call Her Daddy podcast host established with her husband, Matt Kaplan. "I'm trying," Jowsey replied. "I'm feeling everyone up. I'm trying my best. Well, not everyone." Related: Nick Lachey Says Harry Jowsey 'Did Nothing but Solidify the Reputation' He Wanted to Shed on Perfect Match (Exclusive) Cooper even went as far as to predict Jowsey could tie the knot as soon as this year. "I can already feel it," Cooper said. "You're gonna fall in love, and you're gonna maybe fall in love this year and get married." Jowsey asked the influencer who she envisioned him marrying, and she responded that he should avoid women who also work in the social media space. "I think I could see you with someone who is — I like the actor thing for you," Cooper said. "I like no social media girl. I like more actor, teacher, therapist, nurse. Like, the most Hollywood you can go, I think, is like more of an actor vibe." "I think we need to be done with you guys competing for social media-ness," she continued. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Meanwhile, Jowsey listed Camila Cabello, Sabrina Carpenter, Halsey, Cardi B, Oprah Winfrey and Ariana Grande as potential matches for him. Nowhere in the podcast did Jowsey directly mention actress Lucy Hale, who PEOPLE confirmed he was dating in March. A source told PEOPLE last month that their relationship was "super casual, but it's not brand new." Jowsey told Cooper that his "last public relationship was, like, two years ago." She disagreed, seemingly referring to the Hale headlines by telling him, "[Your] last public relationship was, like, two seconds ago on E! News. Bro, where you at?" "No. We're actually, whatever," Jowsey trailed off with a laugh, leaving his relationship status unclear. Read the original article on People
