When Kyle Cooke sat down with host Jason Tartick on the“Trading Secrets”podcast in mid-May, the Summer House star didn’t mince words about what 2026 has thrown his way. The 43-year-old reality TV fixture called it a“roller-coaster”— which might be the understatement of the year given everything that’s unfolded since his separation from estranged wife Amanda Batula became public earlier this year.
The timeline reads like a tabloid fever dream. Kyle and Amanda announced their split via Instagram after four years of marriage. Two months later, Amanda confirmed she was dating their costar West Wilson, who also happens to be the ex of Amanda’s former best friend and fellow Summer House cast member Ciara Miller. Meanwhile, the cast filmed their season 10 reunion in April, and within 24 hours, an audio recording of Amanda and Ciara arguing about West leaked online. Bravo launched an official investigation and eventually concluded it, but the damage to cast dynamics was already done.
When Tartick asked Kyle directly if 2026 lived up to his expectations, his answer was blunt:“Not so much.”He pointed out that April had been particularly rough, and he’s clearly ready to move past the chaos. But here’s where Kyle’s take gets sharp — he’s openly critical of how West handled himself at the reunion. On the“Trading Secrets”podcast and via social media, Kyle called out West for being“all PR and zero intention or integrity,”noting that during the reunion’s toughest moments, West sat silent while the dynamics imploded. Kyle specifically criticized West for not having Amanda’s back, despite West reportedly requesting that any heat be directed at him rather than Amanda.
What makes this whole situation sting a bit more is Kyle’s perspective on Amanda’s state of mind heading into the West romance. According to the article’s reporting, Kyle views Amanda as having been vulnerable at the time — which adds another layer of complexity to an already messy breakup. The fact that West was part of their social circle and that his past relationship with Ciara further tangled the web suggests this wasn’t a clean exit for anyone involved.
The reunion will air soon enough, and fans will finally see firsthand how these conversations played out. But Kyle’s recent candor makes one thing clear: when he talks about turning the page on 2026, he’s not just processing his marriage ending. He’s processing betrayal, poor choices by the people around him, and the particular brand of humiliation that comes when your personal drama gets picked apart on national television.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.