Summary:
-
Alex Cooper faced setbacks with the cancellation of “Love Overboard” and winding down of Unwell Hydration.
-
Despite the challenges, Unwell raised money and announced new projects, including a scripted Hulu drama and YouTube series.
-
Disney’s relationship with Cooper remains strong, but Unwell’s internal reputation faces scrutiny amidst the setbacks.
Alex Cooper built Unwell into a media empire on the idea that a podcast audience could carry over into almost anything. This month, two of those bets didn’t pay off.
Page Six first reported that Disney has canceled “Love Overboard,” the nine-episode Hulu dating show produced by Cooper’s Unwell Productions alongside Jeff Jenkins Productions, 3BMG and Walt Disney Television Alternative. TMZ later confirmed the cancellation, citing low viewership as the reason. The show, hosted by “Bachelorette” alum Gabby Windey, premiered in March and followed 22 singles competing for romance on a yacht.
An insider told Page Six the series “wasn’t finding an audience,” a surprising note given the show’s active social media presence during its premiere run.
The news lands less than three weeks after Bloomberg reported that Unwell Hydration, Cooper’s beverage line with Nestlé, is winding down for good. The company plans to release a final run of Halloween-themed flavors before ending production across its full lineup. Target, Unwell Hydration’s main retail partner, is reportedly selling through its remaining stock rather than restocking.
Two setbacks landing back to back is a rough stretch by any measure, but neither appears to be slowing Cooper down. Unwell recently raised money from Hollywood agent Patrick Whitesell’s firm WTSL in a deal that valued the company at $500 million, and the company has announced more than eight new shows or films under Unwell Productions since June. That includes “You Deserve to Know,” a scripted Hulu drama starring “Vampire Diaries” alums Nina Dobrev and Paul Wesley, plus “Unwell Summer Games,” a YouTube series debuting Sept. 7.
A source told Page Six that Disney’s relationship with Cooper remains intact. “Disney has a great relationship with Alex and is in development with her on a few projects,” the insider said. Disney and Cooper did not comment on the “Love Overboard” cancellation.
ADVERTISEMENT
The timing also lands during a rockier stretch for Unwell’s internal reputation. A June Vanity Fair investigation detailed allegations from current and former employees describing a difficult workplace culture at the company.
None of it seems to be slowing the expansion. Whether “Love Overboard” and Unwell Hydration end up as footnotes or early warning signs probably depends on how “You Deserve to Know” performs, and on whether Unwell’s next round of swings land better than these two did.
