The $125 Million Rift: Why Alix Earle’s ‘Hot Mess’ Podcast Split From Alex Cooper’s Unwell Network

The digital media landscape was rocked by a major shake-up in early 2025, when one of the most prominent partnerships between two of the internet’s biggest female stars—Alix Earle and Alex Cooper—abruptly came to an end. The split, which saw Earle’s chart-topping Hot Mess podcast depart from Cooper’s multi-million dollar Unwell Network, has sparked a firestorm of speculation, rumored feuds, and alleged 'shade' being thrown across social media platforms. Fans are hungry for the truth behind the separation of the TikTok "It Girl" and the "Founding Father" of podcasting, and the latest details point to a complex professional disentanglement.

The news is particularly fresh, as the official departure was reported in February 2025, just months after the partnership was announced with great fanfare. This unexpected turn of events has created a fascinating narrative of power, influence, and the volatile nature of creator-driven business empires, proving that even in the world of viral fame, business is always business. This deep dive explores the full timeline, the rumored rift, and the future for both the Call Her Daddy host and the TikTok sensation.

The Titans of Media: Alix Earle and Alex Cooper Profiles

To understand the magnitude of this split, one must first appreciate the media empires built by these two formidable women. The partnership was initially viewed as a powerhouse collaboration, uniting the world’s biggest female podcaster with the internet’s fastest-rising star.

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Alix Earle (The TikTok Sensation)

• Full Name: Alix Ashley Earle
• Date of Birth: December 16, 2000
• Rise to Fame: Gained massive popularity on TikTok in late 2022 and early 2023 by posting candid "Get Ready With Me" (GRWM) videos, sharing details about her life, beauty routine, and dating experiences.
• Education: Graduated from the University of Miami in 2023.
• Key Milestone: Her authentic, "hot mess" persona resonated with millions, leading to lucrative brand deals and the launch of her own podcast, Hot Mess.
• Early Career: Worked as a marketing intern at her family’s business, Earle, where she honed her social media skills.

Alex Cooper (The Podcasting Mogul)

• Full Name: Alexandra Cooper
• Date of Birth: August 21, 1994
• Rise to Fame: Co-created and became the sole host of the wildly popular podcast, Call Her Daddy (CHD), in 2018.
• Key Milestones: Secured a groundbreaking three-year, $60 million exclusive deal with Spotify in 2021. She is widely regarded as the world's biggest female podcaster.
• Business Ventures: Founded The Unwell Network, a media company aimed at developing and supporting new-generation creators, with the goal of building a $125 million media empire.
• Brand: Known as the "Founding Father" of CHD, she interviews influential figures, from Miley Cyrus to Leonardo DiCaprio's ex-girlfriends, with bold and irreverent humor.

The Partnership and The Abrupt End of The Unwell Network Deal

The collaboration between Alix Earle and Alex Cooper began with immense excitement. In September 2023, Earle announced on Call Her Daddy that her new podcast, Hot Mess with Alix Earle, would be joining Alex Cooper’s new venture, The Unwell Network. It was a strategic move that immediately lent credibility and a massive audience to Cooper's fledgling network.

The partnership made perfect sense: Cooper provided the infrastructure, mentorship, and business acumen of a seasoned media mogul, while Earle brought the raw, viral energy of a TikTok superstar. Hot Mess quickly climbed the podcast charts, becoming one of the network's flagship shows.

However, the honeymoon phase was short-lived. Just five months after the launch, in February 2025, news broke that Hot Mess had been released from its contract with Unwell. The network reportedly relinquished all rights to the podcast, allowing Earle to take full control and manage it independently. The abruptness of the professional divorce immediately fueled speculation of a personal rift between the two creators.

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The official reason for the separation was described as a mutual decision for Earle to pursue other opportunities, but the surrounding circumstances suggested underlying tension. The biggest clue came from a series of events that fans and media outlets quickly pieced together to form a timeline of a possible feud.

The Feud Rumors: Super Bowl Snubs and Social Media Shade

The first major crack in the relationship appeared in January 2025, well before the official split. Eagle-eyed fans noticed that Alix Earle, who was in New Orleans for the Super Bowl, skipped a high-profile party hosted by The Unwell Network. This absence was particularly conspicuous, as Earle was one of the network's biggest stars and a key figure in the Unwell brand.

Following the Super Bowl snub and the subsequent departure of Hot Mess, the rumors intensified. The professional separation quickly devolved into what many perceived as a personal rivalry, with alleged "shade" being thrown on social media. Cooper, known for her sharp wit and candid commentary, posted a series of cryptic captions and remarks that fans interpreted as digs at her former partner.

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Alix Earle, for her part, seemingly addressed the drama in the comments section of one of her TikTok posts, replying to a fan asking about the situation with the quip, "How much time do you have?" This subtle, yet telling, response seemed to confirm the existence of a rift and the complexity of the situation, adding more fuel to the narrative of an estrangement between the two media giants.

The core of the issue, according to industry speculation, may have been a clash of creative control, business expectations, or simply a difference in vision for the future of the Hot Mess brand. The fact that Unwell released all rights to the podcast suggests a clean, albeit rapid, break, allowing Earle to move forward without legal entanglement.

What’s Next? Alix Earle’s Independent Future and Alex Cooper’s Empire

Despite the drama, both Alix Earle and Alex Cooper are moving full speed ahead with their respective careers, demonstrating the resilience and entrepreneurial spirit that made them famous in the first place. The split has forced Earle to step into a fully independent role, a significant move for a creator who only recently graduated from college.

Alix Earle’s Next Steps

• Hot Mess Relaunch: After a brief hiatus that began on March 26, 2025, Earle has been teasing the return of the Hot Mess podcast. The show is expected to return with a new, independent production structure, continuing its focus on candid conversations about dating, life, and her journey as a young celebrity.
• Business Ventures: Earle has revealed that she is investing in a new, unnamed alcohol brand, signaling a shift toward more traditional business ownership outside of content creation.
• Sponsorships and Branding: Her personal brand remains strong, with continued high-profile sponsorships and a massive following that tunes in for her authentic "Get Ready With Me" videos and updates on her relationship with her professional athlete boyfriend.

Alex Cooper and The Unwell Network

• Continued Expansion: Alex Cooper’s Unwell Network continues to expand despite the high-profile departure. The network is actively signing new creators and shows, solidifying its position as a major player in the creator-owned media space.
• Call Her Daddy Dominance: Cooper’s flagship podcast, Call Her Daddy, remains a dominant force on Spotify, regularly featuring A-list celebrities and driving cultural conversations.
• The Founding Father’s Focus: Cooper is focused on building the network’s long-term value, using her $125 million media empire to cultivate the next generation of top-tier talent.

The Alix Earle and Alex Cooper saga serves as a modern cautionary tale in the creator economy: while partnerships can create instant synergy and massive growth, the clash of two equally powerful brands can lead to an equally dramatic, and very public, separation. For fans, the drama has provided endless entertainment, but for the industry, it highlights the complex negotiations and personal dynamics that underpin multi-million dollar digital media deals. The future of Hot Mess, now fully independent, will be a key indicator of Alix Earle’s ability to transition from a viral TikTok star to a fully self-sufficient media mogul, a path Alex Cooper has already successfully paved.