Alex Cooper addressed the allegations that her company is a toxic workplace and that her husband emotionally abuses his employees by saying that women are held to a higher standard in her industry.
“I think if you walk the halls, there are so many people that are so happy to work at this company,” Cooper told The Wall Street Journal in a video interview published Wednesday about her media company, Unwell.
“I think, unfortunately, being a woman in this industry is extremely difficult because you’re held to a complete different standard. Whether it’s a smear campaign being created for someone’s narrative — whatever it be,” she said.
“I think when you read lies about yourself … it’s hard. But I think the reason that I’ve had success in this industry is I have really thick skin, and I’m going to keep pushing forward,” Cooper added.
Vanity Fair published a report earlier this month alleging that Cooper, host of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, leads a toxic workplace.
The report cited 40 women, many of whom are current or former employees at Unwell, who said that despite Cooper’s portrayal of herself as a feminist, the company is actually run by mean girls.
The report also alleged that Cooper’s husband, Matt Kaplan, who helps run Unwell, is Cooper’s “puppeteer” and has referred to employees as “stupid” or “retarded.” The report also alleged that Kaplan has made employees uncomfortable with his questions about their sex lives and his lingering hand on their thighs or backs.
Attorney Bryan Freedman responded to Vanity Fair on behalf of Cooper, Kaplan, and Unwell, writing, “If the Story so much as suggests any sexual impropriety on Mr. Kaplan’s part, I will make it my life’s mission to ensure Vanity Fair’s days are numbered.”
On Monday, Cooper told the Journal not to believe the allegations.
“I will say that building a startup, there is so much growth that comes with that, and I am extremely proud of what we have built at Unwell,” she said. “And I will just kind of leave it at ‘don’t believe everything that you read on the internet’ — but I think everyone knows that at this point.”
Vanity Fair’s report followed an online spat between Cooper and rival podcaster Alix Earle, who was once signed to Unwell and had reposted a TikTok calling Cooper an “ambulance chaser.”
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