Insight into Craig Conover and Loverboy Investment Saga: Kyle Cooke's Account and Future Plans

Kyle Cooke Breaks Down Craig Conover and Loverboy Investment Drama Timeline

Kyle Cooke, Craig Conover. Bravo (2)

Kyle Cooke is here to tell us his version of the story about what went down between him, Craig Conover, and their company Loverboy.

In 2018, Cooke, along with his wife Amanda Batula and friend Carl Radke, introduced their alcohol brand, Loverboy, to the world. Fast forward five years, the market for canned cocktails has expanded, and Conover has also joined in on the trend.

When Conover announced in April that he was an investor in Spritz Society, Cooke claimed there was “no bad blood” between them. However, Cooke confessed during a May appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen appearance that it “rubbed me the wrong way” how Conover told him he was working with a competitor. (Conover, meanwhile, hasn’t publicly commented on the controversy.)

Cooke claimed on the Monday, June 3, episode of the “Trading Secrets” podcast that “First and foremost, all my friends that I’ve filmed with know that I’ve raised money.” He also mentioned that the only person who ever showed interest in investing was Carl.

Cooke, who has been friends with Conover since 2018, claimed that Craig never showed any interest in investing in Loverboy.

During the podcast, Cooke provided a detailed timeline of when Conover informed him about his new investment, as well as what occurred before his comments on WWHL. Check below for more information.

The Investor Issue

Kyle Cooke Breaks Down Craig Conover and Loverboy Investment Drama Timeline

Kyle Cooke, from Spritz Society, responded to the drama following Ben Soffer's wife Claudia Oshry's claims on "The Toast" podcast. She stated that Cooke had denied Conover the opportunity to invest in Loverboy and also said that Loverboy had no investors.

Cooke mentioned on Jason Tartick’s “Trading Secrets” podcast in June that there seemed to be a misunderstanding. He clarified that Loverboy has had investors since 2019 and expressed his deep appreciation for their support. He shared that many investors had reached out to him, concerned about recent events, showing their continued support and interest in the business. Cooke emphasized the vital role investors have played in the success of Loverboy.

Cooke also stated that Conover was fully aware of his efforts to seek investors and explore fundraising opportunities during their time in Vermont for Winter House in March 2022. This indicates that the intention to involve investors was known to all parties involved in the business discussions.

Kyle’s Spritz Society Conversation

Cooke clarified on the podcast that he is not the sole owner. He emphasized that he was actively fundraising, especially during Winter House season 2, and was open about it with his close friends, including Craig. Cooke mentioned that he was in the process of raising a round of financing and wanted to make it clear that this was not a secret.

Nearly two years after Cooke was fundraising in early 2022, he met Soffer, the founder of Spritz Society, in New York City. Cooke recalled that Soffer had sent him a direct message while they were both at an industry conference in January. According to Cooke, Soffer was already in discussions with Craig, as per his wife's timeline. They agreed to have dinner the following month.

The dinner took place about two weeks before Cooke and Craig met for drinks. Cooke mentioned that they were being very detailed with receipts and timelines nowadays, so he confirmed that the dinner happened on February 7th. He added that he had a great time during the conversation.

The star of The Summer House remembered a conversation with Soffer where he suggested collaborating and hosting a party to combine their audiences. Cooke was open to the idea but later found out that Soffer had already discussed collaborating with Conover without mentioning it to him.

Cooke expressed his surprise, saying he was unaware of the collaboration talks between Soffer and Craig. He mentioned that Soffer knew he was friends with Craig and wished that Soffer had been more transparent about his intentions.

Craig Tells Kyle About His Spritz Society Situation

Craig admitted that he found it strange that Soffer had not informed him or Conover about spending time with someone else while they were all working together on an investment deal.

Kyle Cooke Breaks Down Craig Conover and Loverboy Investment Drama Timeline

Courtesy of Kyle Cooke/Instagram

Shortly after Cooke met with Soffer in NYC, Conover reached out to go get drinks in the Big Apple. “It all kind of unfolded in early February, Craig and I got drinks,” Cooke said. “I thought it was just to catch up.”

Cooke claimed that “10 minutes before” their friend Tom Schwartz showed up at the bar, Conover “sprung” his Spritz Society deal on him.

Cooke remembered that the offer on the table seemed to be about giving him equity, but then he left the bar early. The next day, Cooke texted him, asking to hold off from signing anything. Cooke wanted to counter the offer with his own.

After some discussion, Conover informed Cooke that it was too late for him to present a Loverboy offer.

Cooke expressed disappointment that he wasn't given a chance to share his thoughts with his friend. He was worried that this situation might affect their friendship, as he had dedicated a lot of time and effort to his company over the past five years.

Cooke confessed that he feels strongly about his business and is easily affected by it. Although he didn't necessarily need Conover to be part of Loverboy, he was taken aback by the decision to collaborate with Spritz Society.

‘Watch What Happens Live’ Debacle

He expressed his surprise at one of his close friends teaming up with a competitor. According to him, their conversation was brief and to the point.

After chatting with Conover in February, Cooke decided to keep it private and not share the news publicly. However, things changed when Andy Cohen brought up their Loverboy disagreement on WWHL in May. Cooke admitted that he was caught off guard during the talk show appearance, as he was prepared to discuss Summer House and had not thought about the issue in a while. He acknowledged that his emotions got the best of him in that moment.

The reality star explained that he had made a conscious decision not to comment on Craig's involvement in the competition before. He wanted to keep it private. Cooke mentioned that he didn't mean to bring it up at that moment. He also mentioned that he is not only friends with Conover but also close to his girlfriend, Paige DeSorbo.

Cooke shared that he is not trying to make things awkward for anyone, mentioning that he regrets being too reactive on WWHL. He claimed that Conover has a history of dishonesty and had lied to him.

While Cooke stands by his comments about Conover to Cohen, he admitted that he could have handled the situation better. He acknowledged that even when he is correct, his delivery, tone, and temper can make him appear wrong.

What’s Next?

Kyle Cooke Breaks Down Craig Conover and Loverboy Investment Drama Timeline

Kyle Cooke shared with Tartick on Instagram that he is feeling disappointed about how things turned out. He mentioned that the only option now is to try and ensure that their career choices do not affect their friendship.

Cooked expressed his desire to have a conversation with Craig to resolve any issues between them. He emphasized the importance of moving past any conflicts and apologizing for his previous reactions and comments on Watch What Happens.

He further explained that the real issue at hand is not about competition between two startups. Rather, it is about the challenge of staying relevant in an industry that often hinders the growth of new businesses.

Editor's P/S:

Kyle Cooke's recent interview on the "Trading Secrets" podcast sheds light on the ongoing drama surrounding his friendship with Craig Conover and their respective canned cocktail companies, Loverboy and Spritz Society. Cooke's detailed timeline and clarification of events provide a more nuanced perspective on the situation, suggesting a history of miscommunication and hurt feelings.

Despite Cooke's initial denial of any animosity towards Conover, his comments on the podcast reveal underlying disappointment and frustration. He claims that Conover failed to disclose his involvement with Spritz Society in advance, despite being aware of Cooke's ongoing fundraising efforts. Cooke also expresses concern about the potential impact on their friendship, acknowledging that he values his relationship with Conover and his girlfriend, Paige DeSorbo. While Cooke acknowledges his own shortcomings in handling the situation on "Watch What Happens Live," he emphasizes the importance of resolving the conflict and moving forward. The article highlights the complexities of business relationships within close-knit social circles and the challenges of maintaining both professional and personal ties in such situations.