Breaking news! The two most famous blonde-haired influencers named Al(i/e)x are fighting, and no one quite knows why — only that it might be related to Alix Earle’s podcast, “Hot Mess.” Alix versus Alex is yet another example of two women celebrities tearing each other down for viewers’ entertainment. 

Earle launched “Hot Mess” in September 2023 under Unwell Network, which was founded by Alex Cooper of “Call Her Daddy” fame. A year and a half later, “Hot Mess” left Unwell, sparking early rumors of a potential conflict with Cooper. 

But those rumors stayed on the back burner — until now.

On April 9, Ashley Tiscareno, also known as @TheBravoMom on Instagram and TikTok, uploaded a TikTok video comparing Cooper to an “ambulance chaser.” She shamed Cooper for interviewing women during times of need, saying, “She is profiting off of women’s heartaches and failures. … That’s not girl power.” Earle reposted the video the same day. 

This prompted a follow-up from Cooper on Monday morning — also posted to TikTok — in which she urged Earle to “get specific and just say what you gotta say about me.” Cooper put the ball in Earle’s court, saying, “I have nothing to hide when it comes to you and me.” Earle reposted the response, commenting, “Okay on it!!” She then posted a TikTok on Tuesday of herself watching Cooper’s video. 

And that is where the drama ends. 

It remains unclear exactly when or why the feud started, as Earle has yet to reply to Cooper, or if a feud even exists at all. Reports have circulated that the entire fight is a brazen publicity stunt, sure to end in Earle appearing on “Call Her Daddy” or with the release of Earle’s upcoming Netflix show — though Cooper denied those rumors on Wednesday afternoon, writing, “no this is not a pr stunt.” 

I’ve followed Earle for a few years now, albeit as a guilty pleasure, and I’ve never listened to “Call Her Daddy.” I couldn’t care less about who’s actually at fault. Yet I’ve found myself obsessively refreshing both Cooper and Earle’s accounts over the past few days, desperate for an update from either one of them about what happened between them. 

At first, I had a difficult time articulating why I cared so much about the drama of two influencers I barely keep up with. I was ashamed of myself for buying into the tabloids and gossip columns. But then I thought about the most culturally significant celebrity feuds, and I realized that most of the ones that came to mind featured two women at odds. 

The entertainment industry has pitted talented women against each other since its inception. Old Hollywood had Bette Davis versus Joan Crawford, the aughts had Britney Spears versus Christina Aguilera and the 2010s had Taylor Swift versus nearly every other woman musician. Alix versus Alex is simply another entry in a yearslong canon of conflict. 

In response to this well-established pattern, audiences have become conditioned not only to anticipate but also to encourage drama among women celebrities. Predominantly women fanbases feel impassioned when they take a side in these spats, defending their idol’s honor, yet they are unknowingly contributing to the devaluation of their accomplishments. 

Reducing women celebrities to petty rivalries sidelines the talent that made them famous in the first place. The focus shifts to whoever they’re fighting with, rather than their own creative achievements, as exemplified in the Cooper and Earle case. 

Cooper currently hosts one of the most-streamed podcasts in the United States and is under a $125 million licensing deal with SiriusXM. Earle organically grew a following of over 8 million on TikTok by candidly posting about her life as a student at the University of Miami. Both have estimated net worths in the millions and manage successful side hustles; Cooper has a line of “better-for-you” beverages through Unwell, while Earle just launched the skincare brand Reale Actives. 

Both of them are killing it. So why are viewers more interested in their falling-out than any of their more positive, productive endeavors? Because it’s what we’ve been taught to pay attention to. 

Even though Cooper has vehemently denied that her feud with Earle is a stunt, the fact that so many users thought two successful businesswomen would feel the need to fabricate an entire conflict for attention speaks volumes.  

If this does turn out to be a stunt, I’m disappointed in both of them for feeding into the tired narrative that women celebrities need to force themselves into competition with other women to stay relevant. 

Earle and Cooper are two of the most influential content creators in the world; they don’t need to tear each other down for engagement. Instead of fueling the feud, they should focus on doing what they’re best at: empowering their women followers to live authentically. 

Fiona Feingold is a junior writing about women in the entertainment industry in her column, “Femininomenon,” which runs every other Friday.