Dave Portnoy is revisiting one of the biggest podcast controversies in internet history, and according to the Barstool Sports founder, there’s a major piece of the story fans never heard. During a recent interview, Portnoy looked back at the explosive 2020 breakup between “Call Her Daddy” hosts Alex Cooper and Sofia Franklyn, revealing new details about the behind-the-scenes negotiations that nearly brought the wildly successful podcast to an abrupt end. According to Dave Portnoy, what unfolded behind closed doors was far more complicated than the public realized.
At the height of the dispute, Cooper and Franklyn halted production on “Call Her Daddy” despite still being under contract with Barstool Sports. The standoff quickly became one of the most talked-about media stories of 2020, with fans closely following every twist in the battle over ownership, contracts, and creative control.
Dave Portnoy told TMZ Live that he attempted to resolve the situation by presenting what he considered one of the most generous offers Barstool had ever made. According to the Barstool founder, the proposal included higher compensation, a shorter contract term, and a path toward eventual ownership of the podcast. The offer was designed to address many of the concerns Cooper and Franklyn had raised during negotiations.
Portnoy Claims A More Alarming Proposal Emerged During Negotiations
While discussing the fallout, Portnoy revealed what he described as the most surprising moment of the entire saga. According to him, after Cooper and Barstool began working toward a resolution, she later disclosed that there had allegedly been discussions about using toxic workplace allegations as a way to escape the existing contract. Portnoy said the revelation caught him completely off guard and remains one of the most shocking details he remembers from the dispute.
The Barstool founder did not provide additional specifics about the alleged conversations, but said the information immediately stopped him in his tracks.
The ‘Call Her Daddy’ Breakup Changed The Podcast Industry
The public split between Cooper and Franklyn became a defining moment in podcasting and influencer culture. After the partnership unraveled, Cooper remained with Barstool and continued hosting “Call Her Daddy” solo before eventually taking the show to new heights. She later signed a reported $125 million, three-year deal with SiriusXM, cementing herself as one of the most successful podcasters in the industry.
Franklyn, meanwhile, launched her own independent show, “Sofia with an F,” and built a solo brand following the breakup. And years later, the feud remains one of the most dissected creator disputes in digital media.
Alex Cooper Is No Stranger To Public Creator Feuds
Portnoy’s comments come as Cooper has recently found herself involved in another high-profile falling-out in the influencer world. In 2023, Cooper launched the Unwell Network, a media company aimed at younger audiences. One of the network’s first major signings was social media star Alix Earle, who debuted her podcast “Hot Mess with Alix Earle” shortly afterward.
The partnership appeared successful on the surface, but things changed in early 2025 when Unwell dropped Earle and her podcast. While Cooper initially stated the split was amicable and that Earle retained full ownership of her intellectual property, tensions later spilled into public view.
Alex Cooper And Alix Earle’s Dispute Played Out Online
The disagreement escalated when Earle began interacting with social media posts that criticized Cooper and the Unwell Network. Things reached another level when Earle reposted a TikTok that compared Cooper to an “ambulance chaser” and the “grim reaper,” accusing the podcast star of “profiting off of women’s heartaches.”
Cooper eventually addressed the situation publicly, calling on Earle to express any issues directly rather than through indirect social media activity.
Portnoy’s latest comments arrive as he promotes his newly released book, “Cancel Me If You Can,” which chronicles many of the controversies and business battles that have defined his career. And judging by his latest revelations, the “Call Her Daddy” breakup remains one of the stories he’s still eager to discuss.
