Alex Cooper Slams Dave Portnoy’s Memoir, Declares She Never Read It

On August 12, 2024, *Call Her Daddy* host Alex Cooper sat down with CNBC’s *Squawk Box* to address allegations that surfaced in Dave Portnoy’s memoir, *Cancel Me If You Can*. The book, released in June, suggested that Portnoy might have faced sexual‑harassment accusations if he hadn’t let Cooper exit her contract.

Cooper, 31, said she had not replied before because she was pregnant and “busy building a child.”

The podcast star told reporters that she has never read the memoir, but recalls the past quite differently. “I remember seeing, obviously, [and] getting tagged in those things and that’s not how I remember it at all,” she said.

“I also am like, ‘Dave’s got his version, I got my version, and we’re all good.’” When pressed for details, Cooper laughed and declined to elaborate.

Despite the heat, Cooper emphasized her respect for Portnoy. “I think, whenever I see Dave online, we all enjoy his banter,” she said. “He is a very entertaining person, and I have a very great and complicated relationship with Dave.

He gave me my start in this industry, and I will never not be grateful to him.”

## Background & Context

Cooper launched *Call Her Daddy* under the Barstool umbrella with then‑cohost Sofia Franklyn. In 2021, she signed an exclusive deal with Spotify before building her own brand and eventually launching her own media network. She is currently expecting her first child with husband Matt Kaplan.

Unwell Media Network, the company Cooper co‑owns with Kaplan, recently attracted a $500 million valuation after an investment from Patrick Whitesell’s firm. “Matt and I, with Unwell, knew that we wanted to take on investment at some point,” she explained on CNBC.

“Obviously, when we started the company, we put in our own money to start it and we’ve been profitable since day one.”

Cooper outlined Unwell’s structure: a Gen Z, female‑centric media company comprising dozens of podcasts, a film and television studio, live events, consumer products, a charitable foundation, and a creative agency.

“With this flywheel approach we’ve built, we’ve got to the point where we’re profitable, we’re making money and we now want to start looking at acquisitions and investments of … new IPs [or] different talent relationships,” she added.

## What People Are Saying

Portnoy, 49, claims in his memoir that he might have faced sexual‑harassment accusations if he didn’t allow Cooper out of her contract. The book’s narrative has drawn media attention, but Cooper has not yet read it. During her CNBC interview, she maintained a calm tone and refused to confirm or deny specific events.

“I’m in my mother era. I’m no drama right now,” she said, steering the conversation back to business.

Cooper’s remarks suggest a desire to distance herself from the controversy while preserving her professional relationship with Portnoy. The phrasing “we’re all good” indicates an attempt to keep the story from escalating further, even as she highlights her gratitude for his early support in her career.

## What Happens Next

No public statements have been issued by Portnoy in response to Cooper’s remarks, and no legal actions appear imminent. The focus now appears to be on Cooper’s growing media enterprise and her personal life as she prepares for motherhood.

Her statement that she is “busy building a child” signals a shift toward family and business priorities.

Unwell Media Network’s recent valuation and planned expansion suggest that Cooper will continue to steer the company toward new acquisitions and talent partnerships, rather than dwell on the memoir controversy.

The next phase of her career likely centers on solidifying her brand’s independent identity beyond Barstool or Spotify affiliations.