The “Puppeteer” Behind Alex Cooper’s Nausea? Former employees press charges against podcaster’s husband Matt Kaplan | Today’s news
Matt Kaplan, the film producer and husband of podcast star Alex Cooper, is facing allegations from several former employees and contractors who say his behavior contributed to a toxic work environment at Unwell, the media company founded by Cooper.
Toxic workplace allegations against Alex Cooper’s husband Matt Kaplan
The allegations were detailed in a recent report by Vanity Fair, which cited accounts from several women who worked for or alongside the company. While many sources declined to speak publicly for fear of potential professional repercussions, their accounts collectively describe a workplace where employees reportedly felt intimidated, humiliated and afraid of making mistakes.
According to Vanity Fair, several women alleged that Kaplan referred to employees as “stupid” or “retarded” and threatened to damage their careers. Others claimed that he often crossed professional lines through comments about physical appearance and discussions regarding employees’ personal and sexual lives.
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Many former employees reportedly described uncertainty about workplace norms, particularly among younger employees entering the workforce for the first time. One source cited by Vanity Fair suggested that Kaplan considered the young female employees “little sisters” and claimed that some feelings of discomfort may have been misplaced. However, many former workers painted a significantly different picture.
Some employees reportedly viewed Kaplan as the main behind-the-scenes decision-maker at Unwell. One former worker recalled being instructed, “You have to help me get Alex out of the house and into these meetings. The same person claimed that Kaplan complained, ‘I don’t want her sitting on our couch eating hot Cheetos the whole time I’m here running her company.’
Several sources told Vanity Fair that the fear surrounding both Cooper and Kaplan affected the workplace dynamic. One former contract worker described the problem as particularly damaging to younger workers, claiming that “Those young – poor girls were having panic attacks, anxiety attacks. It’s not sustainable.”
Among the strongest allegations came from a freelancer who worked with Unwell on the project, telling the magazine: “Matt is creating the most toxic work environment I’ve ever seen.” The individual allegedly witnessed Kaplan repeatedly berating young female employees for minor mistakes, including event logistics and production-related tasks.
Another former employee alleged that Kaplan routinely used aggressive language and personal insults. “Matt is going to scream the worst things and say the nastiest things to you and Alex is going to be right there next to him and he’s not going to defend anyone,” the former worker claimed.
Other allegations involved confrontations during the filming of the production. A contractor told Vanity Fair that Kaplan’s behavior reduced crew members to tears and included threats of compensation. “I’ve seen producers cry,” she said. “The (technical) team broke down in tears. They threatened to withhold payment.”
The same contractor claimed that Kaplan was invoking his status during the arguments, recalling him saying, “Do you know who I am? Do you know who my wife is?”
According to the report, Kaplan was also accused of verbally confronting employees with statements such as, “Are you king with me? Are you trying to mess with me on purpose?” and told the workers, “You’re wasting my money. I can replace you at any time.”
Several women further alleged that Kaplan blurred professional lines through conversations about dating and sex. Former employees told Vanity Fair that he would ask employees questions including, “Who did you have sex with this weekend?” and “What did you do at the weekend? Who did you do?” Others claimed he commented on employees’ appearance, discussed who he found attractive, and occasionally made them uncomfortable with prolonged physical contact or long stares.
Not all accounts were identical. One employee quoted in the report said that Kaplan “was definitely a flirty guy, but (I) can’t say I’d feel uncomfortable. However, several former employees described behavior they found inappropriate or unprofessional.”
The allegations have attracted attention because they appear to be at odds with the public image of Unwell, which has often been presented as a modern, female-centric media company. According to several former employees who spoke to Vanity Fair, the workplace culture they experienced differed significantly from this image.
Neither Kaplan nor Unwell management publicly addressed the specific allegations made in the Vanity Fair report at the time the claims were published, leaving renewed scrutiny of the company’s internal culture and management practices.
