Alex Cooper Responds to Dave Portnoy’s Claim She and Sofia Franklyn Planned Sexual Harassment Allegation to Exit Barstool Contract

**Alex Cooper Responds to Dave Portnoy’s Controversial Claims**

In a recent interview with CNBC, podcaster Alex Cooper addressed allegations made by Dave Portnoy in his book, *Cancel Me If You Can*. Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, claimed that Cooper and her former co-host Sofia Franklyn had devised a plan to accuse the company of sexual harassment as a means of escaping their contract. However, Cooper categorically denied these assertions and shifted the focus of the conversation to her successful business ventures.

Cooper, 31, and Franklyn, 33, co-founded the popular podcast *Call Her Daddy* in 2018, ultimately signing a three-year contract with Barstool Sports. During the CNBC interview, Cooper refrained from commenting extensively on Portnoy’s allegations. When asked by CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin about the accusations, she quipped, “I’ve been pregnant, Andrew. I’m busy building a child.”

While she acknowledged Portnoy as an influential figure in her career, Cooper pointedly stated, “I think whenever I see Dave online, we all enjoy his banter. He’s 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.” Cooper also revealed that she had not yet read Portnoy’s book, saying, “Dave’s got his version, I’ve got my version, and we’re all good.”

When pressed for her perspective on the matter, Cooper expressed her desire to remain drama-free, stating, “I’m in my mother era. I’m no drama right now, Andrew. We’re here to talk business.” This statement further underscored her focus on her burgeoning career and her role as a new parent.

The controversy emerged from Portnoy’s narrative concerning the early days of *Call Her Daddy*. In his recently released book, Portnoy recounted interactions with Cooper and Franklyn during contract negotiations, suggesting that Cooper once discussed a strategy to claim harassment to facilitate their exit from Barstool Sports. Representatives for both Cooper and Franklyn did not respond to requests for comment surrounding these claims at the time of the book’s release.

Amid the contractual turbulence, Cooper later reflected in her 2025 Hulu docuseries, *Call Her Alex*, on how she and Franklyn had attempted to renegotiate their contract. She revealed that Portnoy had offered them ownership of the podcast’s intellectual property if they agreed to extend their deal with Barstool for an additional year. “Sofia didn’t want to take the deal, but I did, so I stayed,” Cooper disclosed, highlighting her belief in the podcast’s potential and audience.

In a 2024 interview with *The Hollywood Reporter*, Cooper reiterated the importance of the decision surrounding the intellectual property of the podcast, stating, “I think less about the specific person.” She expressed her satisfaction in trusting her instincts and emphasised the significance of the intellectual property negotiations, recalling her excitement when Portnoy made the offer “on a rooftop.”

Franklyn ultimately departed from the podcast in 2020, stating in a *Business Insider* essay that the contract negotiations had “fallen apart.” Following this split, Cooper secured a three-year contract with Spotify worth a staggering $60 million in 2021, later inking a deal estimated to be over $100 million in 2024. These contracts have solidified her standing as a media mogul within the podcasting landscape.

As Cooper continues to expand her brand with her Unwell Media company, which recently achieved a valuation of $500 million, her focus remains on the future. Rather than getting embroiled in the past disputes with Portnoy, she is more inclined to channel her energies into the business front and her new role as a mother.

This latest chapter in Cooper’s career highlights not only her resilience in the face of controversy but also her commitment to steering her professional journey in a positive direction. As she moves forward, it remains evident that Cooper’s influence in the podcasting world is only set to grow.