Kyle Cooke’s Rival Seltzer Scandal Rekindles Feud
Loverboy founder Kyle Cooke recently stirred controversy after being photographed shotgunning a Truly Hard Seltzer, a rival beverage, despite his prominent role in his own company. This incident immediately drew attention due to the glaring irony and resurfaced memories of his past feud with former *Summer House* co-star Hannah Berner. The 43-year-old was pictured with the Truly can in the early morning hours, sparking questions about brand loyalty. His wife, Amanda Batula, clarified that these specific photos were not from a separate incident where she claimed he slept at a fan's house.
The underlying tension traces back to *Summer House* Season 5 and a 2021 Truly ad Berner participated in. Berner later revealed on the BFFs podcast that this ad caused “beef” among the cast, leading to significant annoyance and, in her view, contributing to her departure from the show. She explained that while Bravo didn't explicitly fire her, the escalating ego clashes and territoriality over “my show, my drink” created an untenable environment. Cooke, however, vehemently denied Berner’s claims of his involvement in her firing, stating publicly that he has “nothing to do with casting” and lacks influence over Bravo's decisions.
Separately, Cooke also addressed his wife's claim, teased in the *Summer House* Season 10 trailer, that he slept at a fan’s apartment after a late night out. He clarified to People that while he deeply regretted staying out until nearly 6 a.m. after an event Amanda chose not to attend, he did not intentionally sleep at a fan's apartment. Instead, he explained, he fell asleep on a couch at an after-party, emphasizing that he doesn't use stimulants to stay awake. This explanation highlighted a subtle distinction between “sleeping at” and “falling asleep at” a fan's residence, a nuance that did not escape public observation. The overall narrative underscores the challenges of public life and brand management within reality television.
The recent fallout from Kyle Cooke's scandal has reignited discussions about the fierce competition in the world of pop culture rival seltzer brands.
