Story perspectives

Alex Cooper Shuts Down Unwell Beverage, Ends Production

8/15/2026

Summary

Alex Cooper Shuts

Alex Cooper, host of Call Her Daddy, is shutting down Unwell Beverage Co. two years after its 2025 launch with Nestlé.
The line, launched with Nestlé in 2025 for women’s electrolyte, vitamin and caffeine drinks, added protein and energy drinks.
Unwell will release a Halloween batch before ending production by year-end, with Target selling remaining stock without restocking.
Patrick Whitesell funded the company in a deal valuing Unwell at $500 million.

Summary

Alex Cooper Defends

Vanity Fair’s June exposé alleged that Matt Kaplan created a toxic work environment at Unwell, citing 40 employees who reported yelling, panic attacks and crying.
Alex Cooper told the Wall Street Journal in Cannes that she does not believe everything she reads online, defended staff morale and expressed pride in their work.
Bloomberg reported in April that Unwell suffered executive turnover, audience-flop shows and faces a saturated influencer-driven beverage market.

History

Historical Context

In 2007 Coca-Cola bought Energy Brands, the maker of VitaminWater, for $4.1 billion, marking its first major acquisition of a celebrity-linked functional-drink brand. Founder John D. Bikoff earned $325 million from the deal, while co-founder Mike Repole later repeated the model with BODYARMOR, sold to Coca-Cola for $5.6 billion. The deal set a precedent that encouraged later high-valuation attempts in the functional-drink sector.

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Alex Cooper Shuts

Alex Cooper, host of Call Her Daddy, is shutting down Unwell Beverage Co. two years after its 2025 launch with Nestlé.
The line, launched with Nestlé in 2025 for women’s electrolyte, vitamin and caffeine drinks, added protein and energy drinks.
Unwell will release a Halloween batch before ending production by year-end, with Target selling remaining stock without restocking.
Patrick Whitesell funded the company in a deal valuing Unwell at $500 million.

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