Kyle Cooke Expresses Displeasure Over Craig Conover's Partnership with Rival Brand: 'Rubbed Me the Wrong Way'

Kyle Cooke Says Craig Conover Investment in Alcohol Company Rubbed Me to Wrong Way

Kyle Cooke and Craig Conover Getty Images (2)

Kyle Cooke shared his thoughts on Craig Conover investing in a competitor to his alcohol company, Loverboy.

During an episode of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen on May 23, Cooke was questioned about Conover promoting Spritz Society, a drink company created by Instagram personality Ben Soffer, also known as Boy With No Job. Initially, Cooke mentioned that there was no animosity between them. However, his stance shifted as the episode progressed.

"I feel like this is being exaggerated," Cooke shared with Andy Cohen. "I don't believe there was any real investment, and it seems like the media is only mentioning me."

In 2018, Cooke started his beverage brand, offering alcoholic and non-alcoholic teas, cocktails, and spritz cocktails. Just last month, Conover revealed his involvement as an investor in Spritz Society, a drink company.

Cooke expressed his well wishes for the person in question, but admitted that he was displeased with how the situation was handled. He mentioned that there wasn't enough time to delve into it further, but that he was trying to take the high road. Cooke also mentioned that the person has a history of dishonesty, and had lied to him.

During the WWHL After Show on Thursday, host Cohen brought up the topic again after noticing Cooke's apparent distress. Cooke explained to Cohen and guest Paul Scheer that the individual from Spritz Society had taken him out to dinner just days before finalizing the deal, yet failed to disclose this information. Cooke felt that the person had manipulated him to gather information.

Cooke shared, "Craig had already agreed to the deal before he spoke to me. He seemed surprised to learn about our spritz, thinking we only offered sparkling hard teas. I had to remind him that our spritz line had been launched a year and a half prior to our meeting."

Kyle Cooke Says Craig Conover Investment in Alcohol Company Rubbed Me to Wrong Way 2

Kyle Cooke mentioned that Craig Conover had tried Loverboy's range of drinks in the past. During the filming of Winter House, they launched their espresso martini. Kyle emphasized that Loverboy is not just about teas, as Craig had experienced all their products. He recalled Craig's surprise, thinking they only offered sparkling hard teas. Kyle pointed out that the company Craig had invested in seemed to have taken inspiration from Loverboy and launched a similar product later on.

He concluded the discussion by stating that when someone says, "Kyle, it's just business," it's usually to justify something they did that seemed questionable.

Conover has not publicly responded to Cooke's comments, but he did talk about Spritz Society competing with Loverboy in an interview with Page Six recently. He mentioned understanding why Cooke had to put in a lot of effort, as the alcohol industry can be very challenging. Conover also mentioned that he would have been interested in investing in Loverboy, but the opportunity was not presented to him.

Cooke’s Loverboy company also includes his wife, Amanda Batula. She is good friends with Conover’s girlfriend, Paige DeSorbo. Batula, who is 32 years old, mentioned in an exclusive interview with Us last month that she has decided to take a step back from the brand to focus on her marriage.

"I felt that we needed some space for now," she shared with Us. "Having both relationship and work issues was overwhelming for us. This decision seems to be beneficial for our relationship at the moment."

Editor's P/S:

The conflict between Kyle Cooke and Craig Conover exposes the complexities of business relationships within social circles. While Cooke initially dismissed any animosity, his later comments reveal a sense of betrayal. He alleges that Conover withheld crucial information and manipulated him, highlighting the importance of transparency and ethical behavior in business dealings.

The dynamics of the situation are further complicated by the social connections between the individuals involved. Cooke's wife is close friends with Conover's girlfriend, adding an extra layer of personal entanglement to the professional rivalry. This underscores the challenges of separating business from personal relationships and the potential for conflicts of interest.