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Riley Gaines just ignited a firestorm on her podcast Wednesday. The OutKick host blasted Alex Cooper for peddling what she calls “poison” to young women in her Call Her Daddy dating advice. Gaines is warning parents that daughters are “under siege” by a culture of hedonism, not empowerment.
🔥 Quick Facts
- The Controversy: Alex Cooper encouraged listeners to skip dating rules and engage in casual sex on first dates.
- Riley’s Response: Gaines declared the advice “poison” rather than “empowerment,” criticizing its hedonistic foundation.
- Cooper’s Reach: The Call Her Daddy podcast ranks No. 4 among all U.S. podcasts in Q1 2026 rankings.
- Gaines’ Warning: The Riley Gaines Show host urges mothers to teach daughters that real empowerment comes from boundaries and self-respect.
The Comment That Started It All
Alex Cooper sparked massive backlash on April 5 when she told Call Her Daddy listeners to abandon traditional dating rules. “Kiss them the first date, sleep with them the first night. Like, I don’t care,” Cooper stated bluntly. She instructed women to “go based on what feels good to your body and what feels right to you.” The clip went viral across social media, drawing intense criticism from conservative voices.
Riley Gaines did not stay silent. On May 7, the OutKick personality launched into a scathing critique on The Riley Gaines Show, declaring that Cooper was spreading a harmful ideology masked as liberation.
Riley Gaines slams Alex Cooper’s dating advice as ‘poison’ to young women
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Gaines Attacks the “Poison” Philosophy
Gaines emphasized that Cooper‘s messaging is fundamentally destructive, not empowering. “What’s she peddling? It is not empowerment. It is poison,” Gaines declared. “And I feel like it’s time we say it out loud.” She accused Cooper of turning “hook up culture into a sport” and exploiting young women by framing casual intimacy as liberation.
According to Gaines, the real danger lies in Cooper‘s hedonistic philosophy. “The real rot at the core of her message is the hedonistic mantra, you know, like ‘What feels good is good.'” Gaines argued that this approach leads to heartbreak, not happiness for vulnerable young women seeking guidance.
Cultural Impact and Podcast Dominance
| Metric | Details |
| Call Her Daddy Ranking | No. 4 U.S. podcast, Q1 2026 |
| Year-Round Status | Top podcast for past several years |
| High-Profile Guests | Kamala Harris, Michelle Obama |
| Response Comment | Gaines: “Her success alone is proof of how far we’ve fallen” |
Riley Gaines made clear that Cooper‘s influence extends far beyond entertainment. The Call Her Daddy podcaster’s reach among millions of young women represents, in Gaines‘ view, a cultural catastrophe. “Alex Cooper’s success alone is proof of how far we’ve fallen. But the good news is we do not have to accept it,” Gaines declared with urgency and conviction.
“Women should do literally the exact opposite of everything that she tells you to do. This message is so harmful. This advice, it is a recipe. It’s a recipe for heartbreak and regret and guilt and shame and broken families.”
— Riley Gaines, OutKick Host and Podcaster
A Call to Mothers and Real Empowerment
Gaines concluded her critique by speaking directly to mothers and parents. She warned that young women are “currently under siege” by messaging that commodifies their bodies and equates sexual performance with worth. The Riley Gaines Show host urged parents to teach their daughters the truth about genuine empowerment.
“Tell your daughters the truth that real empowerment comes from self-respect and boundaries and saving intimacy for someone who earns it,” Gaines instructed. “Teach them that what feels good in the moment often leads to lifelong regret.” Her message stands in direct opposition to Cooper‘s hedonistic framework, positioning faith, family values, and personal boundaries as antidotes to cultural decay.
Will Alex Cooper Respond to the Riley Gaines Criticism?
As of now, Alex Cooper has not publicly responded to Riley Gaines‘ scathing criticism. The Call Her Daddy host’s representatives did not immediately return requests for comment. This ongoing culture war between traditional values advocates and modern sex-positive messaging shows no signs of cooling. Will Cooper defend her position, or will she let the controversy fade? The broader question remains: how much influence should podcasters have over young women’s dating decisions and self-perception?
Sources
- Fox News – Riley Gaines fires back at Alex Cooper’s graphic dating advice coverage and video analysis
- Edison Research – Q1 2026 top U.S. podcast rankings featuring Call Her Daddy at No. 4
- The Riley Gaines Show – Wednesday episode featuring direct quotes and cultural commentary
