Alex Cooper’s Unwell is launching the next edition of its reality games competition, Unwell Summer Games, as the company continues its expansion amid increased headlines and controversy.
The YouTube series, which launches Sept. 7, brings together 16 reality stars, creators and internet personalities who compete for a $250,000 cash prize. The show was filmed over four days at a luxury ranch in Canada and follows the launch of the Unwell Winter Games in March.
Cooper is the executive producer of Unwell Summer Games in addition to her husband and co-CEO Matt Kaplan, Mina Lefevre and Eric Detwiler, who previously worked on Perfect Match and Love Is Blind. The series is hosted by Adam W., with commentary from Cameron Gerrard and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu.
The news comes during a period of change at the company, after Cooper announced an investment on Aug. 12 from WTSL, the Silver Lake-backed firm led by Patrick Whitesell, that valued Unwell at $500 million. The plan is to use the investment to grow the company, which includes a slate of podcasts, as well as live events and a film and TV production arm including through acquisition. Cooper also recently left talent agency UTA.
However, amid the planned expansion, a report in Bloomberg also said that Cooper’s branded beverage line, Unwell Beverage Co, is shutting down later this year. Cooper has also faced a number of negative headlines after Bloomberg and Vanity Fair both reported claims about staff turnover and uneasiness among the staff, particularly due to the behavior of Kaplan, who is said to have yelled at and berated staff members. Some of these instances were said to have occurred during the Unwell Winter Games.
Cooper was asked about both reports during a conversation with The Wall Street Journal advertising editor Suzanne Vranica at Cannes.
“I will say that building a startup, there is so much growth that comes with that, and I am extremely proud of what we have built at Unwell,” the Call Her Daddy host said in June. “And I will just kind of leave it at ‘don’t believe everything that you read on the internet’ — but I think everyone knows that at this point.”
The company is positioning the second edition of the games as part of its increased investment in original programming.
“Our audience moves fluidly across platforms, and our job is to continue meeting them where they are with ideas that feel distinctly Unwell,” Kaplan said. “The response to Winter Games reinforced the opportunity we see on YouTube, and we’re continuing to invest in original formats that bring together great talent, big personalities and the kind of entertainment our audience wants to be part of.”
Full cast for the Unwell Summer Games:
- Beau Bailey, Love Overboard personality
- Chad Batchelder, creator and internet personality
- Hallie Batchelder, returning Unwell favorite from Unwell Winter Games and Extra Dirty
- Suede Brooks, creator and star of Calabasas Confidential
- Kassy Castillo, reality TV personality and Perfect Match alum
- Tim Demirjian, personality from Love Overboard
- Brandon Edelman, digital creator and personality
- Pepe Garcia, Love Island alum
- Blake Gray, longtime creator and social media personality
- Zarah Kelleher, creator and digital personality
- Carly Lawrence, reality TV veteran known for Too Hot to Handle
- Becca Moore, creator and host of For the Girls
- Dejon Noel-Williams, Love Island U.K. alum
- Daniela Ortiz, Love Island alum
- Jourdan Riane, reality TV personality known for Love Island U.K.
- Jimmy Sotos, Perfect Match alum
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