Alex Cooper, host of the hugely popular podcast Call Her Daddy, says she was subjected to sexual harassment during her time playing soccer in college.
Before her podcasting career, the 30-year-old played for Boston University's Division I soccer team from 2013 to 2015. In her new two-part Hulu docuseries, Call Her Alex, she alleged that she was sexually harassed by the team's coach, Nancy Feldman.
As reported by People, Cooper broke out into tears as she recalled how Feldman began to "fixate" on her, "way more than any other teammate of mine." She said Feldman began to obsess over her during her sophomore year of college.
"[It] was all based in her wanting to know who I was dating, her making comments about my body and her always wanting to be alone with me," she shared, adding that Feldman allegedly once asked her if she had sex the night before.
"It was this psychotic game of, 'You want to play? Tell me about your sex life,'" she said. "I felt so deeply uncomfortable."
She also said Feldman would ask her to get in a car with her alone.
"I was attending BU on a full-tuition scholarship. If I didn’t follow this woman's rules, I was gone," she added, explaining why she didn't come forward about Feldman's alleged behavior before now.
She said she spoke to her parents about the abuse, but when they consulted with lawyers, they were advised that the case could be dragged out for years. Cooper said she and her family spoke to officials at Boston University and provided written documentation, but no action was taken. Feldman retired in 2022.
In a Q&A after the premiere of the docuseries at the Tribeca Festival on Sunday (June 8), Cooper said she was "nervous and scared" to open up about the allegations. But director Ry Russo-Young was "incredibly supportive" and helped her feel more comfortable.
"I'm not ashamed that it took me 10 years," she said. "But it makes me question a lot, and I think this documentary, as difficult as it was to explore, I actually think this is just the beginning. ... It's really opened my eyes to how difficult the system is, and it's so built against us as women."
Call Her Alex debuts on Hulu on Tuesday (June 10).
