Matt Kaplan Accused of Fostering Toxic Workplace at Alex Cooper's Media Empire
A bombshell report from Bloomberg has alleged that Alex Cooper's podcast network, Unwell Network, is plagued by a toxic work environment, with her husband and co-CEO Matt Kaplan accused of frequently yelling at employees and threatening their careers.
According to company insiders who spoke to Bloomberg, Kaplan has earned a reputation for berating staff members, leading to high turnover and internal conflicts. In the past year alone, the head of brand marketing, head of the network, and chief growth officer have all departed their roles at Unwell Network.
Allegations of Abusive Behavior on Set and During Tours
The report details specific incidents where Kaplan's behavior allegedly caused distress among employees. One person claimed that Kaplan screamed at workers on the set of Cooper's YouTube show, Unwell Winter Games, resulting in a crew member bursting into tears.
Furthermore, some employees have reportedly threatened to quit in the middle of film sets and live tours due to his conduct. In the 2025 Hulu documentary Call Her Alex, which followed Cooper's first live tour, a production manager was seen threatening to resign. While Kaplan blamed the issue on a demanding work schedule, a source told Bloomberg that the manager actually broke down because of Kaplan yelling and swearing at staff.
Background of Cooper and Kaplan's Business Partnership
Alex Cooper and Matt Kaplan, a film and TV producer, co-founded their company Trending Media in 2023. Trending Media serves as the parent company for the Unwell Network, which includes Cooper's popular lifestyle podcasts, such as Call Her Daddy, and Kaplan's production company, ACE Entertainment.
While Cooper focuses on her creative projects and podcasting, Kaplan is said to handle the network's day-to-day operations. It is in this managerial role that the allegations of abusive behavior have emerged, with Bloomberg reporting that Kaplan has threatened to blacklist employees from other jobs in the industry.
Recent Tensions and Lack of Comment
The report comes amid other visible rifts within the Unwell Network. Recently, Cooper publicly called out her feud with Alix Earle, host of the Hot Mess podcast, after the company parted ways with Earle in 2025. Cooper shared a TikTok video accusing Earle of spreading "fake drama," to which Earle responded, "Okay on it!!"
Representatives for both Kaplan and Cooper did not return requests for comment from The Independent regarding the workplace allegations. The couple, who have been together since 2020, married in Mexico in April 2024.
The allegations raise serious questions about the management culture at Trending Media and the Unwell Network, potentially impacting the company's reputation and employee morale moving forward.
