Alex Cooper recently shared that interviewing RuPaul for her podcast, Call Her Daddy, was her most challenging interview. Speaking in a new interview with Marie Claire published on Tuesday, Cooper explained that the pressure came from her desire to impress her “absolute queen” during their conversation.
“I wanted so badly to have Ru love me,” said Cooper, acknowledging her awareness of the privilege of speaking with the drag icon. “I felt like I had to prove why RuPaul should sit down with me,” she added.
The 30-year-old podcast host noted that she worked hard to keep up with the 64-year-old RuPaul’s Drag Race star during their March 2024 discussion. “I really wanted to earn the respect,” Cooper revealed. “I knew Ru would appreciate the show, but I wanted to make sure the experience was a good one.”
During the interview, Cooper and RuPaul discussed sensitive topics such as RuPaul’s family trauma, past struggles with addiction, and his relationship with husband Georges LeBar, as well as how he manages the pressures of fame.
In her conversation with Marie Claire, Cooper also mentioned her approach to interviewing celebrities. She emphasized the importance of making them feel “safe,” adding that she strives to create an environment where guests feel genuinely seen and heard. “I’ve been on many shows where the host isn’t really present, almost like they don’t even know my name,” she said, reflecting on the dehumanizing nature of some interviews.
Her goal in every interview is to make the guest feel like their voice truly matters. “I care about the celebrity sitting across from me, but I also care about my audience,” she explained. “I want to make sure they learn something from the conversation.”
Cooper has built her brand significantly since launching Call Her Daddy in 2018 with Barstool Sports. In 2021, she signed a major $60 million, three-year deal with Spotify, and in August 2024, she made headlines again by securing a massive $125 million deal with SiriusXM.
