Summer House's Carl Radke and Kyle Cooke: Unfiltered Reflections on Friendship Amid Season 7 Drama and Loverboy Controversy

The reality TV bromance between Carl Radke and Kyle Cooke from Summer House has been thriving since 2016. However, their journey hasn't always been without challenges.

Viewers were introduced to Carl and Kyle when Summer House debuted in 2017, following their summer of filming. Over time, their friendship blossomed, leading Carl to join Kyle's company, Loverboy, in 2019. Kyle had founded Loverboy a year earlier.

When Kyle married Amanda Batula, their Bravo costar, in 2021, Carl officiated the wedding. However, the following summer, Carl's relationship with Lindsay Hubbard escalated, resulting in their engagement in August 2022. However, they broke up one year later, causing Carl to make the decision to leave Loverboy.

In February 2023, Carl shared exclusively with We that he loves being around Kyle and cares about him deeply. However, the challenges that arose from their business partnership began to impact their friendship, making things difficult. Carl acknowledged that they would do their best to navigate the situation.

Scroll down to see what both Carl and Kyle have said about their friendship after their work shakeup and beyond:

Credit: Courtesy of Carl Radke/Instagram

Summer House’s Carl Radke and Kyle Cooke’s Honest Quotes About Their Friendship After Season 7 Drama, Loverboy Controversy

The reality TV bromance between Carl Radke and Kyle Cooke from Summer House has endured since at least 2016, although it hasn't always been without its challenges.

Viewers were introduced to the pair when Summer House made its debut in 2017, following their summer filming experience. As their bond strengthened, Carl eventually joined Kyle's company, Loverboy, in 2019, which was established a year earlier by Kyle.

Kyle and Amanda Batula, Bravo costars, tied the knot in 2021, with Carl serving as the officiant. However, their long-lasting friendship faced challenges the following summer when Carl's relationship with Lindsay Hubbard progressed rapidly. They got engaged in August 2022 but ended their engagement within a year. Additionally, Carl made the decision to part ways with Loverboy.

In an exclusive interview with We in February 2023, Carl expressed his love and concern for Kyle, admitting that the situation had been difficult. He acknowledged that their business partnership had begun to impact their friendship but reassured that they would do their best to navigate through it.

Scroll down to see what both Carl and Kyle have said about their friendship after their work shakeup and beyond:

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The Blame Game

"He's completely disengaged. Ever since he started dating Lindsay, his productivity has significantly declined," Kyle asserted in the trailer for Season 7 of Summer House, released in January 2023.

In response, Carl vehemently defended himself on the beach, stating, "I've been putting in maximum effort, and it's still not considered satisfactory."

Elsewhere in the teaser, Kyle told his other housemates, “Carl could you walk away from the company right now and the company won’t feel a f—king thing!”

Credit: Courtesy of Kyle Cooke/Instagram

Kyle Considers Carl His ‘Brother From Another Mother’

Kyle expressed his deep affection for his longtime companion on Instagram in January 2023 while commemorating his 38th birthday. "Cheers to another year of being inseparable, my trusted confidant, and the one who always has my back," he delightedly proclaimed, sharing a delightful snapshot of the two. "Our journey has been remarkable, and I eagerly anticipate the continuation of our exhilarating adventures. Xoxo."

Credit: Courtesy of Carl Radke/Instagram

Carl Is Still ‘Team Kyle’

Carl exclusively told Us in February 2023 that although it can be difficult to hear anything other than support for Kyle, he wants to shift his focus towards the future. He is confident that he can rebuild his relationship with Kyle and return to the place they were before. Carl also mentioned that both of them are maturing, with Kyle entering his forties in July 2022 and Carl turning 38 in January 2023.

“I’m in a committed relationship, he’s legally married, and naturally there will be changes in our friendship. ... I aim to establish a supportive and balanced dynamic between us as friends,” Carl expressed. “However, it is important to mention that working with a close friend, as a cautionary note, can be extremely challenging.”

Credit: Courtesy of Carl Radke/Instagram

Finding Their New Normal

Heading into the summer, I had my own thoughts about the state of my business and the direction of my career. Ultimately, I found myself questioning whether it was truly the best decision for me. In an exclusive interview with Us in February 2023, Carl emphasized that he had devoted three and a half years to working alongside Kyle and Amanda, who serves as Loverboy's creative director. "I take great pride in my accomplishments and the intense effort we have put forth, as that is what Kyle expects," he stated.

Now that Carl has taken a step back from his role, he maintains that he and Kyle are gradually rebuilding their close bond.

“Ultimately, Kyle and I are friends. My desire is for his success and happiness,” expressed Carl. “However, I had to introspect and determine what is best for both myself and my career. Above all, my goal is to rekindle our friendship with Kyle, as it has been overshadowed by our business endeavors. This neglect has been mutual, not one-sided.”

Credit: Courtesy of Carl Radke/Instagram

Carl’s New Loverboy Role

In February 2023, Carl expressed his pride as an investor, stating, "I'm still an investor, and I'm very proud of that. I'm extremely proud of my contributions to the company." However, he also mentioned that he is now involved in other endeavors, which he finds fulfilling. Despite this, he remains fully supportive of the company, receiving texts and emails about Loverboy, which he promptly forwards to the appropriate person. Carl shared that he believes it was best for him to move on from his previous role.

While there is a possibility of collaborating in the future, for now, Carl and Kyle have decided to focus on their friendship. Carl revealed that they recently had dinner together and affirmed their friendship, stating, "Kyle and I just got dinner together the other night; we're friends." Reflecting on the challenges they might face reliving their experiences on the show, Carl expressed that both of them are supportive of each other's personal journeys.

Credit: Courtesy of Carl Radke/Instagram

Carl Was Always In Support of Kyle’s ‘Dream’

In February 2023, Carl candidly admitted to ET that his original aspiration was not to establish the most impressive or trendiest alcohol brand. His true ambition was to encourage and support Kyle's dreams. Carl expressed his love and unwavering belief in Kyle's vision, but he also acknowledged a growing inclination to reassess his role in the business. The complex nature of their friendship and professional lives has become increasingly blurred, which poses unique challenges. Expect to witness the unfolding of this dynamic as a profound exploration lies ahead.

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Kyle ‘Hardly Recognizes’ Carl Filming Season 7

In February 2023, when the season 7 Summer House premiered, Kyle voiced his apprehension about Carl's noticeable transformation since he began seeing Lindsay.

Kyle shared with his roommate Mya Allen that he had mixed feelings about his two close friends dating. Despite officiating his wedding, he found it hard to recognize the guy due to the whirlwind romance. The founder of Loverboy also admitted that his professional relationship with Carl felt awkward amidst the tension. He expressed his fear of speaking to Carl, but ultimately wanted him and Lindsay to have a wonderful relationship and assured his support.

Kyle later confided in his wife about his feelings of stress regarding his strained relationship with Carl. He admitted his concern that his best friend might be ready to quit Loverboy. On the other hand, Carl expressed to the cameras that he was feeling the pressure of their evolving work and personal relationship.

“I absolutely love Kyle, but since we work together and spend so much time with each other,” the Pennsylvania native shared during a confessional. He playfully mentioned that he wished there were more guys in the house besides Kyle to converse with throughout the summer. “Honestly, things have been a bit rough lately. I'm still trying to figure out if Loverboy is right for me. It would be nice to have a change of pace."

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Carl Gave Kyle 'Plenty of Opportunities to Fire Him'

In an exclusive February 2023 interview with Us, Kyle confirmed that his former colleague "resigned in good graces” — but was already on thin ice.

"He provided me with numerous opportunities for termination," Kyle disclosed to Us, additionally mentioning the fact that he compensated Carl with a full-time salary for an entire year despite him being mostly disengaged. The entrepreneur also expressed his disappointment in how Lindsay and Carl had made their personal affairs public, stating that he had not anticipated this turn of events. Nonetheless, Kyle ultimately recognized that being in an environment fueled by alcohol was not conducive to maintaining sobriety.

Credit: Charles Sykes/Bravo

Carl Claimed He Wasn’t ‘Valued’ at Loverboy Before Leaving

Kyle expressed to Carl, during an episode of Summer House season 7 that aired in February 2023, that he sensed an underlying issue, likening it to an elephant in the room. Kyle wanted to address the matter because he couldn't quite pinpoint what exactly was wrong.

As an entrepreneur, Kyle insinuated that there had been a change in Carl's attitude towards working at their company, Loverboy, which Carl eventually acknowledged. During their conversation on the beach, filmed in July 2022, Carl discussed feeling overwhelmed and burned out from work. He explained that he was thinking more about the long-term and that he sometimes felt like he was the main face of the brand, with Kyle and Amanda not appearing as involved publicly. This burden of responsibility, combined with feeling underappreciated for the effort and value he believed he brought, caused Carl emotional distress.

Carl expressed his frustration, stating, "There have been days when I have felt extremely irritated. I've been putting in so much effort and it doesn't seem to be appreciated. I often feel undervalued."

Credit: Charles Sykes/Bravo

Kyle Alleged Carl Started ‘Doing Less’ When He Began Dating Lindsay

During episode 2 of season 7 of Summer House, the close friends addressed their issues. However, tensions escalated between them when Carl abruptly left without informing Kyle and the team.

Kyle vented his frustration to his wife during the episode in February 2023, stating, "We've put in so much effort... and he completely ignored it for nine months. This is just a glimpse of the overall picture from the past nine months. He's now claiming to work 90 hours a week, but ever since he started dating Lindsay, his dedication has decreased."

Kyle's frustration reached its peak when Carl was absent in Los Angeles and his work was seemingly neglected. "When I hired him, he was completely unacceptable," the owner of the alcohol brand vented during a group dinner with his housemate Mya. He went on to reveal that in the early days of Loverboy, "[Carl] would come to work intoxicated. There was even a day when he was so heavily under the influence of cocaine that he forgot to bring his computer."

As Carl's friend Danielle Olivera tried to defend him, Kyle snapped and reached his breaking point. He angrily told her, "I'm getting agitated, you understand why? Because if you had any idea what actually happens from Monday to Friday, come talk to me." He then emphasized that Carl was given an incredible opportunity and was granted more lenience than most bosses would offer their employees.

Credit: Courtesy of Kyle Cooke/Instagram

Reuniting Amid the Drama

"Filming can be quite demanding. However, it is the actual broadcast of the recorded footage that truly puts friendships and relationships to the test," Kyle wrote in the caption of a selfie he and Carl uploaded to their Instagram Stories in March 2023. "The rest of the cast gets to witness what they may have missed during the filming process. Confessionals provide a space where one can freely express their thoughts in the heat of the moment, directly to someone's face. Afterwards, social media platforms give everyone else the opportunity to share their opinions on the edited version of events."

He added, "In a strange way, I wanted to inform all of you that @carlradke and I are currently watching this season together as friends, and in doing so, we are gaining valuable insights about ourselves and each other. We will remain supportive towards one another. I have great affection for this guy."

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Kyle Was Team Carl and Lindsay During Their Proposal

In season 7, episode 13, which was filmed in August 2022 and aired in May 2023, Kyle played a significant role in Carl's proposal to Lindsay. Despite Danielle, a mutual friend, expressing concerns due to her own relationship drama with the couple, Kyle chose to support Carl during this special moment.

"Dude, I'm really proud and genuinely excited for both of you," the entrepreneur told Carl in the episode, immediately after he asked the question. "Despite everything we've been through this year, please don't think for a second that it diminishes my excitement and happiness for you. I know you well enough to understand that this is a genuine and serious commitment."

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It’s Been ‘Difficult’ for Carl to Watch Kyle ‘Lash Out’ on Show

"Kyle's contributions are substantial. He brings a vibrant energy and comedic flair," disclosed Carl in a May 2023 interview on the "Not Skinny But Not Fat" podcast. "The challenge lies in the fact that we have a deep-rooted friendship and a shared history."

The businessman found it tough to witness Kyle's negative behavior towards both him and Lindsay on season 7 of Summer House, considering that they had always supported and protected Kyle's relationship. However, Carl acknowledged that in their friendship, both he and Kyle give each other a lot of understanding due to the pressures of being on reality TV. He expressed his hope for their continued forgiveness and reconciliation, mentioning that his former boss has already apologized for their past conflicts on the show. Carl felt proud of the progress they had made in moving forward, although he acknowledged that there is still more work to be done for their relationship to thrive in a positive direction.

Credit: Bravo (2)

Season 7 'Summer House' Reunion Revelations

In the June 2023 airing of part 2 of the season 7 reunion, Carl took a moment to reflect on his relationship with his late brother Curtis. He candidly admitted, "I regret speaking about my brother's heroin addiction. It was not my place to do so." Carl further acknowledged that during season 1 of the series, he drunkenly revealed his brother's struggles to the world, causing significant damage to their relationship. He shared, "When my brother watched the show, he expected to see his brother on TV, but instead, he witnessed me relentlessly criticizing him for his addiction. This experience was truly damaging and deeply wounded our bond."

Kyle reflected on his previous comments about Carl's past drug use and described it as a complete reversal of their roles, considering that Carl had achieved sobriety in January 2021. At the reunion, both friends expressed remorse for their actions during the summer of 2022 and appeared to have made amends. Kyle sincerely acknowledged Carl's journey of personal growth and transformation, confessing that he now recognized the extent of Carl's efforts to change course. He commended Carl for not only improving as a person but for completely reinventing himself.

Carl referred to the native of Maryland as his "beloved brother" and friend with whom he desires to cultivate a harmonious rapport. "I refuse to hold onto any animosity or loathing. This individual has contributed significantly to my life. Our shared experiences have forged an unbreakable bond," he concluded. "Dude, I genuinely appreciate you. I deeply care about you, and that sentiment will forever remain steadfast."

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Kyle Weighs in on Carl and Lindsay's Broken Engagement

In August 2023, it was confirmed by Us that Carl ended his engagement to Lindsay during the filming of Bravo series season 8. In October 2023, Danielle informed Us that she is on "Team Lindsay," while Kyle chose to support Carl as he tried to move on.

Speaking to E! News in October 2023, Kyle emphasized that both Carl and Lindsay are experiencing pain in this unfortunate situation. He mentioned that Carl called off the engagement and is giving Lindsay space, allowing her to reside in the apartment they both contribute to financially. However, he also pointed out that Carl has set boundaries.

Kyle noted that Carl “tried very, very hard to be as respectful as possible” after breaking up with Lindsay. “The poor guy’s trying to figure this all out in real time,” Kyle confessed.