Alex Cooper Fires Back as Influencer Feud Escalates

A public feud between podcast host Alex Cooper, influencer Alix Earle, and Barstool personality Brianna LaPaglia intensified on April 15, 2026, moving from indirect comments to direct accusations and leaked messages.

Alex Cooper addressed the situation on Instagram Stories, pushing back against what she described as a “fake narrative” and online “dog pile.” She specifically called out Brianna LaPaglia for labeling her a “mean girl” and suggesting she would be “destroyed” in the dispute with Alix Earle. To support her defense, Cooper shared screenshots of private messages between herself and LaPaglia dating back to October 2022. The messages showed friendly exchanges, including Cooper congratulating LaPaglia on career milestones and offering support during her breakup with musician Zach Bryan. Cooper stated that the two had never met in person and that these messages represented the extent of their relationship.

LaPaglia responded shortly after in a TikTok video, criticizing Cooper for leaking private messages and calling the move “Mean Girl 101.” While acknowledging that their past conversations were positive, LaPaglia said her opinion of Cooper changed after hearing Alix Earle’s account of a negative interaction at the Super Bowl two years ago. She also introduced a new claim involving Barstool founder Dave Portnoy, alleging that Cooper once said she did not care about LaPaglia or her former co-host Grace O’Malley, and was only focused on making money. LaPaglia reiterated her stance by calling Cooper the “final boss” of mean girls and said she is waiting for Earle to publicly share her full story.

The conflict traces back to Alix Earle’s departure from Cooper’s Unwell network in 2025. Earlier in April, Earle reposted a TikTok that criticized Cooper, using terms like “ambulance chaser” and “Grim Reaper,” suggesting Cooper profits from other women’s personal struggles. Cooper responded by urging Earle to address the issue directly and claimed there was no legal agreement preventing her from speaking out. On April 14, Earle posted a reaction video laughing at Cooper’s response, but she has not yet provided detailed allegations.

At present, Cooper maintains that the controversy is exaggerated and rooted in misinformation, LaPaglia continues to support Earle’s perspective and criticize Cooper’s character, and Earle appears to be building anticipation for a more detailed explanation of her side of the dispute.