Alex Cooper Eyes Creative Artists Agency Amid Unwell's Expansion and Leadership Controversy
August 16, 2026
Past frictions with Alix Earle and Dave Portnoy remain relevant to Cooper’s business decisions and representation strategy.
Alex Cooper has left United Talent Agency and is negotiating with rival agencies, with conversations reportedly centering on joining Creative Artists Agency as she pivots from hosting a podcast to expanding Unwell into a broader media and business portfolio.
This potential agency shift follows Cooper’s recent exit from UTA, a move reported by Bloomberg and confirmed by Deadline sources, as Unwell continues to scale.
Unwell Media remains financially strong, buoyed by a 2024 SiriusXM deal and backing from Patrick Whitesell and Jason Lublin, signaling continued cash flow and growth.
Public scrutiny of Unwell’s leadership has intensified, with Vanity Fair and Bloomberg alleging a toxic work environment, which Cooper acknowledges while defending the company’s performance and culture.
Unwell operates a podcast network with more than a dozen shows and is expanding its reach, including a renewed emphasis on YouTube presence.
WTSL’s investment brings strategic expertise and industry relationships, including ties to Omaha Productions, aligning with Unwell’s aim to scale beyond podcasting.
Cooper remains proud of Unwell’s achievements and cautions readers not to believe everything online, while pursuing new agency representation.
Unwell Beverage Co. was recently shut down after a Nestlé partnership, reflecting strategic adjustments within Cooper’s broader business empire.
UTA had represented Cooper since Unwell’s inception, but leadership is reassessing representation to support aggressive expansion and Whitesell’s investment in positioning Unwell as a content-strategy partner for advertisers and media companies.
Cooper’s public profile includes well-publicized feuds with Portnoy and Earle, and scrutiny of her spouse Matt Kaplan and his work at Unwell.
Despite scrutiny, Unwell remains profitable from its inception, and Cooper suggests brand work could rival the podcasting business in value in the near term.
Summary based on 3 sources
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Sources

Variety • Aug 16, 2026
Alex Cooper Poised to Drop UTA After Tough Period of Media Scrutiny
Deadline • Aug 16, 2026
Call Her Moving: Alex Cooper In Talks With CAA After UTA Exit Under Cloud
TheWrap • Aug 17, 2026
Alex Cooper Exits UTA After Allegations of Toxic Workplace