Latest news with #AlexCooper
Daily Mail
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Ex-Boston University soccer coach accused by Alex Cooper of sexual harassment hit by new abuse allegations
Boston University have been hit by fresh allegations against one of their former soccer coaches - just weeks after Alex Cooper's claims about the staff member. The allegations come just weeks after 'Call Her Daddy' host Cooper claimed she was sexually harassed by the school's long-time former coach, Nancy Feldman. The allegations from Cooper, who played at the school from 2013-15, were revealed in her newly-released Hulu documentary, 'Call Me Alex.' at the start of the month. The University have since responded to Cooper's claims and insisted they 'remain committed to fostering a safe and secure campus environment'. However, a new bombshell interview with former BU soccer star Sophia Woodland has now emerged. In it, she claims that Feldman was a 'manipulator'. In an interview with PEOPLE, she explained: 'The first word that comes to mind is just 'horrible'. She is awful. She, I think, puts on a really good front.' 'During the recruiting process, everybody would talk about how amazing she was. The second I got to school, I was like, 'I've been conned. This is not the same person that I committed under.' Woodland continued: 'I would go so far as to say she's an abuser and manipulator.' 'A lot of what I sort of faced was just psychological abuse and manipulation tactics and this intimidation, psychological intimidation, tactic from her that had a lot to do with my body. But I never really felt comfortable. It was almost humiliating.' The former BU Women's soccer player insisted that, unlike Cooper, she 'didn't face sexual harassment', from Feldman but 'never really felt comfortable'. She continued: 'My freshman and sophomore year, from the second I got there, it was always, always about my body. 'And I was like, 'Okay, why did you recruit me then? Why am I even here?' Because you knew what my body looked like.' 'She was like, 'I want you to work with our strength coach and you need to gain 30 to 40 pounds and weigh as much as so-and-so. She would constantly bring up one teammate, who also played my position.' She later recalled an incident, while at University, which served as a moment of realization as the team revealed their own ordeal with Feldman. Woodland revealed how - in the wake of the death of Stanford soccer player Katie Meyer in 2022 - several BU soccer players sought out session with the university's psychologist. However, what began as a discussion over Meyer's tragic death quickly spiraled into the players detailing their own, individual experiences with Feldman. 'After 10 minutes, the conversation went from talking about [Katie's] suicide to our own experiences with Nancy and the abuse that a lot of people faced,' she remembers. 'It got so bad to where every single one of us went around the room and were sharing things that were said to us personally in meetings over the years. And we were all just crying, hearing each other's stories.' Responding to Cooper's initial allegations earlier this month, the University wrote; 'Boston University has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment. 'We have a robust system of resources, support and staff dedicated to student wellbeing and a thorough reporting process through our Equal Opportunity Office. 'We encourage members of our community to report any concerns, and we remain committed to fostering a safe and secure campus environment for all.' In her own telling of her experience, Cooper said in her documentary that her complaints were dismissed by school officials. Daily Mail have reached out to Boston University officials for comment. Feldman coached the BU Terriers since 1995, when the school first adopted women's soccer as a varsity sport, until 2022. Meanwhile, on Thursday, a second ex-Boston University women's soccer coach was accused of sexual harassment. According to the Boston Globe, Feldman's former assistant coach Casey Brown is facing similar accusations from soccer player Shayla Brown. Shayla, who was also a student-athlete at the university, reportedly contacted the confidential ethics hotline about Brown on September 14, 2024, before discussing another player's alleged ordeal with the team's sports psychologist four days later. 'The coach, she said, was acting inappropriately toward one of BU's key players, focusing excessively on her and trying to manipulate her in ways that were distressing to the player and her teammates,' the Boston Globe noted.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Boston University hit by more sexual harassment claims just weeks after Alex Cooper's allegations
A second ex-Boston University women's soccer coach has been accused of sexual harassment just weeks after Alex Cooper's bombshell claims were made public. Cooper, who played at the school from 2013-15, made shock allegations against longtime head coach Nancy Feldman in her newly-released Hulu documentary, 'Call Me Alex', earlier this month. The Call Her Daddy podcast host described the harassment as 'extremely painful' and claims it has had 'lasting effects' on her to this day, while she also alleges that her concerns were dismissed by school officials. And according to the Boston Globe, Feldman's former assistant coach Casey Brown is facing similar accusations from soccer player Shayla Brown. Shayla, who was also a student-athlete at the university, reportedly contacted the confidential ethics hotline about Brown on September 14, 2024, before discussing another player's alleged ordeal with the team's sports psychologist four days later. 'The coach, she said, was acting inappropriately toward one of BU's key players, focusing excessively on her and trying to manipulate her in ways that were distressing to the player and her teammates,' the Boston Globe noted. 'This was not a case of a coach coddling a prized player, Shayla Brown said. Her teammate was 'being groomed,' she told the psychologist.' The next day Shayla and 17 other BU women's soccer players are said to have taken their claims to the school's Equal Opportunity Office. They reportedly noted that one of their teammates, who asked not to be identified, also shared her own experience with school officials after alleging that she too had been targeted. 'She recalled navigating a stream of awkward texts, unsettling invitations and unwanted attention,' the report claims. After succeeding Feldman as head coach in 2022, Brown stepped down from her position in December after Boston University launched an investigation into the complaints, despite the school claiming the probe found 'there were no BU policy violations and no evidence of sexual harassment.' 'I firmly object to the attack on my character and the way my conduct has been portrayed,' Brown also said. 'The examples used against me are selective, out of context, and open to interpretation, yet they're being presented as fact. I reject that and I question why, despite a clear investigative outcome, these claims are still being amplified. 'I stand by my record and the values that shape my work as a coach.' has reached out to Boston University for comment. Following her astonishing claims, TMZ Sports reported earlier this month that several ex-BU women's players insist their interactions with Feldman were drastically different to Cooper's. A letter from a representative of BU Women's Soccer alumni, which was signed by 99 former Terriers stars, stated that while they do not want to 'diminish or discredit anyone's individual experience,' they felt obliged to share their own experiences as a 'united group.' The group claimed in the letter that they 'categorically never felt unsafe' under Feldman's leadership, before adding: 'We were never at risk of or witness to inappropriate behavior or anything that could be characterized as sexual harassment. 'As a leader, she approached every day with professionalism, making decisions in service of the success of the team.' Players spanning several decades reportedly signed the letter, which added that Feldman's influence didn't end after their collegiate careers. 'She has remained an important part of our lives, and we shall stand by her,' they said.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Boston University soccer coach Casey Brown resigns following sexual harassment allegations from student-athlete
Image via Boston University Athletics (Image of assistant coach Casey Brown) Boston University is facing renewed scrutiny after a second former student-athlete has come forward with serious allegations of misconduct within its storied women's soccer program. Shayla Brown, a senior midfielder, has accused assistant coach Casey Brown of inappropriate behavior toward a teammate—just months after Call Her Daddy host Alex Cooper publicly shared her own disturbing experience with former head coach Nancy Feldman. Brown's account, initially reported through Boston University's ethics hotline in September 2024 and later corroborated by other team members, paints a troubling picture of a coach-athlete dynamic that may have crossed professional boundaries. The university placed Casey Brown on administrative leave during the investigation; she resigned in December. These developments follow Alex Cooper's viral revelations, which ignited a broader conversation about athlete welfare and institutional accountability. As BU attempts to reckon with its past, growing public attention places pressure on the university to uphold its stated values of safety, equity, and transparency. Fresh Harassment Claim Hits Boston University Soccer as Alex Cooper's Allegations Resonate Boston University responds to Alex Cooper's allegations Shayla Brown first approached BU's confidential ethics hotline on September 14, 2024, concerned about an assistant coach's behavior that felt invasive and manipulative. Four days later, she shared her distress with the team's sports psychologist, describing how Casey Brown's attention toward a key player felt like systematic grooming over two years . Brown, along with 17 others, then reported similar experiences to the Equal Opportunity Office. The student-athlete at the center of the allegations spoke of 'unsettling invitations,' persistent texts, and a sense of relentless fixation—prompting BU to place Casey Brown on administrative leave midseason. In December 2024, Casey resigned. BU declared no policy violations were found after investigation, though the resignation stood. Just weeks earlier, Alex Cooper had recounted her own experience with former head coach Nancy Feldman: comments about her body, invasive questions, even physical contact—all ignored by officials at the time. Cooper's story, first revealed in her Hulu docuseries and accompanied by social media outcry, set in motion a broader reckoning at BU. BU furnished a statement affirming its 'zero‑tolerance policy' and said it encourages members to report concerns. Also read: Is Simone Biles Sending a Silent Cry for Help? Mental Health Concerns Rise After X Exit and Cryptic Post These revelations arrive at a moment when the sports world is undergoing profound shifts. From the Yates Report in the NWSL to #MeToo-era reckonings, the spotlight on coach-athlete power imbalances has intensified. BU's actions now resonate beyond its campus, reflecting a universal challenge: how to nurture environments of trust and accountability while facing allegations that cut at the very foundations of mentorship and guidance. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Business Insider
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Logan Paul's Prime sales plummet in a key market as the once-popular drink has growing pains
The hype for energy drink-maker Prime Hydration is drying up. When YouTubers Logan Paul and KSI launched the Prime brand in 2022, demand was so high that a secondary black market formed among UK school children. But the buzz didn't last. In 2024, the company's UK revenue fell about 70% from the previous year, according to public filings. The company pulled in around £33 million (roughly $45 million) in 2024 drink sales, compared to £120 million (about $163 million) the prior year. Consumer interest in its brand has moderated, the company wrote. It's entering a "strategic review process to transition from an initial hyper-growth phase to a more sustainable, long-term presence in the market," it said. Prime remained profitable in the UK in 2024, with about £312,000 in profit, a 92% drop compared to the previous year. There are indications that the heat has cooled off elsewhere, too. US sales declined through the first half of last year, according to estimates from the market insights firm Numerator. As of June 2024, Prime sales in the US were down 40% from the previous year, based on purchase data the firm compiled from its panel of 150,000 US consumers. Numerator attributed the decline to a lack of new buyers, as well as less frequent purchasing and a drop in spending per unit from existing customers. The decline in sales outpaced broader declines in sales in the energy drink and sports drink categories, the company said. Prime entered the global beverage market with a roar, bolstered by the marketing might of its social-media-famous cofounders. In 2023, Bloomberg reported that the company was profitable and set to hit $1.2 billion in sales that year, its first full year in business. The company, alongside other creator product lines like Alex Cooper's Unwell drinks or MrBeast's chocolate brand Feastables, shows the power of social media influencers to make a brand go viral. But influencer businesses can be fickle, and building a brand that can stand the test of time can be tough. Take fashion influencer Arielle Charnas' clothing brand Something Navy, which earned $32 million in revenue in its first year, but saw sales falter a couple of years later. "The upside of the influencer-led, social approach to beverage marketing is that it allows you to capitalize quickly on short-term cultural trends, leading to the huge surge," Euromonitor beverage analyst Howard Telford told BI in a statement last year. "But there is a big risk that this turns into a short-term viral fad unless the product itself (rather than the celebrity of the founders) can serve a real consumer need." Prime's vendors have sued, alleging missed payments Prime's business woes have extended beyond its declining drink sales. Several of the company's vendors filed lawsuits against it, saying Prime had failed to meet its contract commitments. Last year, one of Prime's suppliers sued Prime's parent company for $68 million. Refresco, a beverage-bottling company, accused Prime of breaching a 2023 contract in which it committed to ordering 18.5 million cases annually over three years. Prime sales were "falling well below" expectations, Refresco's lawyer wrote in the complaint, blaming the decline on "fading social media buzz" and a series of lawsuits. The case was eventually dismissed on the grounds of jurisdiction. Another vendor, Agrovana, also sued Prime last year. The Massachusetts-based importer, which provides Prime with ingredients, accused the beverage brand of not paying for products it had ordered in binding purchase agreements. "Sometime in early 2024 or thereabouts, sales of Prime's drinks sputtered, apparently as a result of normal seasonal fluctuations, of the fading popularity of Paul and KSI, and diminishing effectiveness of its on-line marketing," the complaint says. It alleged the company experienced "cash-flow issues" and was "working to secure credit lines to pay the outstanding invoices." Prime denied the allegations, requested the complaint be dismissed, and submitted a counterclaim, alleging Agrovana did not comply with quality standards. In response, Agrovana said that "Prime's complaints were motivated by its inability to sell its finished product as a result of factors that Agrovana had nothing to do with." The case is ongoing.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
"Call Her Daddy" Host Alex Cooper Has A New Documentary: Here Are 20 Surprising Revelations From It
Even if you're not part of the Daddy Gang, you've probably heard of Alex Cooper and her wildly popular podcast, Call Her Daddy. Breaking out to massive success thanks to her honest, no-holds-barred takes on sex, dating, and relationships, Alex has since taken the podcast's popularity into groundbreaking deals with Spotify and, most recently, SiriusXM. But this time, in the Hulu docuseries Call Her Alex, the cameras and the questions turn toward the podcaster herself as she shares surprising revelations about her childhood, her past traumas, and her path to success. childhood, Alex was no stranger to cameras. Her father, Bryan Cooper, was a sports producer for the Philadelphia Flyers. His career, which was not a typical "9-5", was a "normalization," of what Alex thought was the most "incredible, magical" job. "I was enamored with that world," she said. up, Alex didn't have trouble making friends with girls but faced difficulty with the boys. "I was so scared of boys because of the way they treated me," she said. They would comment with insults like, "You look like a skeleton," or that her legs looked "frail." She recalled all she wanted at that time was for them to like her and to feel "wanted" and "desired." naturally a red-head. Her hair color would also incite bullying from the kids at school. school, her home life was a happy one. "I had this really healthy home life," Alex said. "When I was home, I was Alex." As the youngest of four siblings, she was the "loudest one." Hulu / Via She never told her family about being bullied because she was too embarrassed. home, in the safety of her family's basement, she would spend her time making content. She would make videos with friends and even set up a green screen. Kristen Gatti, a childhood friend who made videos with her, shared in the series that they even recreated Devil Wears Prada word for word. Hulu / Via Related: "Rude, Crass, Entitled Piece Of Garbage": People Are Revealing Their Best And Worst Celebrity Encounters, And These Are Genuinely Soooo Fascinating had even taught herself Adobe Premiere at "under 10 years old," said her brother, Grant Cooper. In the safety of the basement, she had full control over the worlds she was creating. It was a place she said she felt "100% myself." childhood passion of Alex's was sports. "Playing sports and making videos in the basement, those were the two things I really loved," she said. 8."I loved being an athlete," said Alex. "It truly allowed me to lean into everything that I liked about myself — being competitive, being determined, having grit." long-time passion for soccer even led to a full tuition scholarship to Boston University, an NCAA Division I school. "I felt this enormous privilege that I was able to carry on and do this." Related: 'It's Always Fat People": 28 Times Celebrities Said Some Really, Really Messed-Up Stuff That Just Flew Under The Radar was an exciting time and a new chapter for Alex. However, in her sophomore year, Alex claims that her coach, Nancy Feldman, started paying "extra attention" to her in a way that she felt was "confusing." The coach, from Alex's perspective, seemed too concerned about Alex's personal life — about who she was dating, making comments about her body, and wanting to be alone with her, Alex alleged. Alex was dropped off at practice by a guy she was seeing, Coach Feldman allegedly asked if she had sex and warned her about sleeping off-campus, which Alex said in the docuseries that her teammates were sleeping off campus too. According to Alex, the coach warned her if she didn't toe the line, that there would be "consequences." Other allegations include a film session, where the team would review playing clips and the coach would comment on Alex's appearance instead of her performance, said Cooper and Alex Schlobohm, a friend and former teammate. Alex S. said, "Whatever reason, every minute that Alex played was highlighted during that film session. It was all based off of her appearance, whereas I felt like when she made comments about other players, it was about their performance." S. was then allegedly kicked off the team by the coach without any reason. According to Alex, the next day, the coach said, 'You see what I just did to your friend? You're not gonna live with her. You're gonna live with who I want you to live with, and you will not be seeing her anymore.' and her parents decided to take it up with the school officials. They allegedly approached the Dean of Athletics with a list of incidents, which they now believed constituted sexual harassment, that Alex's mom had logged since freshman year. But, according to Alex, instead of reviewing the allegations, the school officials asked what Alex wanted from the situation. There would be no conversation about an investigation, the firing of Coach Feldman, or even a reading of the alleged incidents. that, Alex quit the team. "I'm done. I don't ever want to see this woman again," she had said, even though all she had wanted to do was finish her senior year playing the sport that she loved. Both Alex S. and Alex were able to keep their scholarships. graduating from Boston University, where she studied film and television, she moved to New York to pursue a career in film and TV. But she faced difficulty in getting her foot in the door. This led to her starting a YouTube channel, where she put on "creative, weird, fun vlog skits." Hulu / Via she started her podcasting journey, Alex said she experienced "low moments" and "self-doubt," especially when it came to judgment about the podcast's sexual content. "Extended family members thought I was so fucking crazy. Relationships ended in my family because my parents had to stick up for me and say like, 'Oh, she hasn't lost her mind, I promise.'" infamous podcast name, Call Her Daddy, started from a hoodie she bought in college that said "DADDY" on it. husband, Matt Kaplan, is a film and TV producer who she once nicknamed "Mr. Sexy Zoom Man" when they first started dating. According to Alex's mom, he is Alex's first "real" relationship. Alex said that the bullying she experienced led her to think that she would never get married or have kids. She also thought marriage would threaten her independence, but her views changed with Matt. is very important to Alex. Lauren McMullen, who was part of the childhood trio Alex used to make videos with, has been working behind the scenes as a producer for Call Her Daddy. "I can't imagine doing it without her," said Alex. "It's like this crazy synergy that we have together. We'll just be bouncing off each other talking a mile a minute. It just feels so cozy," said Lauren. "I think that's what translates, that it doesn't feel like this corporate sterile washed-down thing. It feels like people who actually really care about this." Alex's growth and why the podcast resonates with millions of listeners, Lauren said, "She could have really used an Alex Cooper back when she was in middle school and high school, and she is now that voice to people who could be her." Have you watched Call Her Alex on Hulu yet? Let us know in the comments. Also in Celebrity: 22 Absolutely Bonkers Things I've Learned About Old Hollywood Celebs That Made My Jaw Hit The Floor Also in Celebrity: This 17-Question IQ Test Will Reveal How Much Celebrity Knowledge You Have Also in Celebrity: 21 Incredible Photos Of Hollywood Legends Back In The Day That I Guarantee You've Never, Ever Seen Before
