Amanda Batula Opens Up About Taking a Break From Husband Kyle Cooke's Business (Exclusive)

Amanda Batula fully supported her husband Kyle Cooke's company, Loverboy, from the beginning. However, after five years, she noticed that it was putting a strain on their marriage.

"I've decided to take a little break to focus on our relationship," Batula, 32, shared exclusively with We. This refers to her position as the creative and branding director at Loverboy.

The Summer House star tied the knot with Cooke in September 2021 after working part-time for Loverboy since its establishment in 2018. She eventually decided to leave her job and join the drink company full-time to support Cooke's dream.

Batula shared, "I found that we would get frustrated with each other over work-related issues. It was like if I was unhappy with something on my end, he would take it personally. And if he had complaints about a decision I made, I would take it personally too. This dynamic wasn't good for our relationship."

Amanda Batula Took a ‘Slight Step Back’ From Loverboy to Help Her and Kyle Cooke's Relationship

Kyle Cooke and Amanda Batula. Jordan Strauss/Bravo

Batula mentioned that she is still involved with Loverboy, but not as much as before in her daily life. She believes that they needed some space for now, which has turned out to be a positive decision for them. Dealing with relationship and work issues simultaneously was overwhelming, so the current arrangement seems to be working well for them.

During the filming of season 8 of Summer House in summer 2023, issues started to arise in Batula and Cooke's relationship. A lot of their disagreements this season have been linked to their struggles with balancing work and personal life.

Batula shared during an episode of the Bravo series in March that she was initially unsure about leaving her job to work full-time for Loverboy, as Kyle had suggested. Reflecting on their situation, she admitted, "Maybe we made a mistake."

Batula expressed her desires to break away from the company during a preview for the remainder of the season, which dropped earlier this week.

Amanda Batula Took a ‘Slight Step Back’ From Loverboy to Help Her and Kyle Cooke's Relationship

Amanda Batula and Kyle Cooke have been together for five years. During a conversation on a boat on April 11, Amanda expressed her need to find something that gives her drive, as she has been supporting Kyle and his business for a long time. In response, Kyle, who is the founder of Loverboy, acknowledged that he also needs her help.

Batula shared that she decided to take a step back on her own.

She mentioned, "Honestly, I kind of just did it after BravoCon [in November 2023]. I was like, ‘I need some downtime.’ And then [I] just never fully submerged myself back into work. I kind of did my meetings and did the jobs I was supposed to do, but sort of slowly stepped back. At one point, someone asked me, 'Are you not joining these meetings?' and I replied, 'No.'"

Batula had two reasons for her decision: she wanted to discover her own passion and she wanted to enhance her bond with Cooke.

She expressed, "I don’t want us to end up resenting each other because of a job. You know what I mean? I’m the type of person that works to live, not lives to work, so I would hate for this beautiful thing that we’re building to be the reason that we potentially separated or fell out."

Ultimately, the couple's dynamic has been positively impacted by Batula's limited role at Loverboy. She mentioned, "[Now] we can focus on our relationship and then hopefully maybe get back to a place where I'm more involved again."

Around the same time, Batula's change within the company coincided with Cooke's BFF Carl Radke rejoining the company in a limited capacity. Radke, 39, had previously announced in February 2023 that he was an investor in the brand but had stopped working for Cooke.

Loverboy's new nonalcoholic line was announced by Cooke at BravoCon in November 2023. He also mentioned that Radke, who is currently sober, was assisting with the launch.

You can catch Summer House on Bravo every Thursday at 9 p.m. ET.

With reporting by Christina Garibaldi

Editor's P/S:

It's commendable that Amanda Batula prioritized her relationship with Kyle Cooke by stepping back from her role at Loverboy. The couple recognized that working together had taken a toll on their marriage, leading to frustrations and misunderstandings. By creating space and setting clear boundaries, they have created a healthier dynamic, allowing them to focus on their bond. Amanda's decision not only demonstrates self-awareness but also her commitment to her relationship's well-being.

Moreover, the article highlights the challenges faced by many couples who navigate work and personal relationships concurrently. It emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries and finding a balance that works for both partners. Amanda's experience also sheds light on the emotional complexities that can arise when one partner supports the other's business ventures. It's essential for couples to openly communicate their needs, expectations, and concerns to prevent resentment and maintain a healthy connection.