Alex Cooper, the podcaster and founder of production company Unwell, is preparing to terminate her representation agreement with talent agency UTA, according to multiple sources. The move comes as Cooper focuses on expanding her business operations beyond podcasting and amid frustration over UTA’s continued relationships with influencers Alix Earle and Dave Portnoy, both of whom have engaged in public disputes with Cooper. UTA had been pressured in recent weeks to end its association with Earle.
Cooper’s company has experienced several recent shifts. Last week, she shut down Unwell Beverage Co., a product venture launched the previous year in partnership with Nestle. Additionally, Unwell announced it had secured its first outside investor, Patrick Whitesell, co-founder of WME and former executive chairman of Endeavor. Whitesell’s investment firm WTSL injected an undisclosed amount of capital that valued Unwell at $500 million. Cooper and her husband Matt Kaplan, who founded the company targeting Gen Z female audiences, retain majority ownership stakes in the business.
UTA has been instrumental in Cooper’s career trajectory, facilitating major deals including hosting arrangements for Peacock during NBCUniversal’s 2024 Paris Olympics coverage and establishing the Unwell Network platform for creators. UTA declined to comment on the reported separation. Cooper is said to be in discussions with rival agency CAA regarding representation.
The personnel changes follow media reports detailing workplace concerns at Unwell. In June, Vanity Fair published allegations from employees describing a difficult workplace environment, while Bloomberg reported in April that company operations had generated staff turnover concerns. When asked about the allegations at Cannes Lions, Cooper stated that such reports should not be fully believed and characterized criticism of female industry leaders as being held to different standards.
The company, founded in 2023 and claiming profitability since inception, continues to pursue growth opportunities with Whitesell’s backing, positioning brand work as potentially matching podcast revenue within the next year.
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