Sofia Franklyn has officially entered the literary world with the publication of her debut memoir, *Daddy Issues*, released on 10 November 2023. The book paints a vivid portrait of her journey from a small-town upbringing in Utah to becoming an internet sensation, alongside her role as the co-host of the hit podcast *Call Her Daddy*. This memoir also delves into the dramatic fallout with her former podcast partner, Alex Cooper, illuminating the tumultuous events that led to her departure from the show.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Sofia-Franklyn-Daddy-Issues-110926-9cb04fdde7c74ccda17a55b8bb818b81.jpg)
In *Daddy Issues*, Franklyn recounts her challenging childhood, raised by a single mother, and her often tumultuous high school and college years. Eventually, she relocated to New York City, where she secured a job at Morgan Stanley, a position she described as unfulfilling. However, her life took a transformative turn when she met Cooper, solidifying a friendship that led to their successful podcast partnership.
The podcast, which tackled themes of sex and relationships, quickly gained traction, catapulting the duo into the limelight. However, in 2020, tensions over contract negotiations with their distributor, Barstool Sports, culminated in Franklyn’s departure from *Call Her Daddy*, an event that sent ripples through the podcasting landscape. Franklyn’s memoir aims to shed light on her perspective of these events, detailing both personal and professional hurdles she faced.
One of the more shocking revelations from the memoir involves Franklyn’s struggles with substance abuse during her college years. She candidly describes being arrested three times, recounting incidents that included underage drinking and a particularly harrowing encounter where she was held in custody for 48 hours. The attention surrounding her legal issues reached a point where her mugshot was circulated both at her workplace and later became a part of the podcast’s merchandise.
In a deeply personal chapter, Franklyn shares a traumatic experience shortly after relocating to New York City, where she recounts being date-raped by a promoter. The aftermath of this harrowing ordeal left her disoriented and without personal belongings, prompting her to seek refuge in the home of her aunt. This revelation not only highlights the vulnerabilities faced by young women in urban environments but also marks an important moment in Franklyn’s journey towards healing.
The book also sheds light on the dynamics of Franklyn’s relationship with Cooper. At one point, she recounts an incident where Cooper allegedly asked her to secretly photograph her dinner with Major League Baseball star Noah Syndergaard, which had a later public fallout when the photograph was leaked online. Franklyn implies that Cooper may have been behind the leak, a suggestion that adds another layer of complexity to their partnership and subsequent fallout.
Adding to the mix of controversy, Franklyn reflects on her mother’s reaction to the early content of *Call Her Daddy*. In the memoir, she reveals a moment of panic from her mother, who urged her to delete the podcast episodes when they first launched. This tension highlighted the generational divide and differing perceptions surrounding discussions of sexuality and relationships.
Another intriguing aspect of Franklyn’s narrative is her assertion that some of the podcast’s most famous jokes, including the “Gluck Gluck 9000,” were inspired by content from Black Twitter. In her memoir, she identifies a friend of Cooper’s who contributed to the creative writing process, suggesting that Franklyn and Cooper’s success may have stemmed from ideas borrowed from other online communities.
In the wake of her departure from *Call Her Daddy*, Franklyn sought new directions in her life, even auditioning for the reality show *Summer House*. Describing this as a period of personal healing, she details how producers encouraged her to practise self-love and affirmation. During a recent television appearance, she reflected on making it to the final round of auditions, remarking on what she called a missed opportunity for the show.
As Franklyn steps into this new chapter, *Daddy Issues* offers not just a retelling of her career but also a poignant look at the personal struggles and triumphs she has experienced along the way. The memoir serves as a powerful narrative that reflects her resilience and an unfiltered look at the complexities of friendship, fame, and the pursuit of self-identity.
*Daddy Issues* is available for purchase, allowing readers a chance to delve into Franklyn’s intriguing and at times tumultuous life story.
About the Author
