The Brett Cooper Show — Episode Summary

Episode: Ranking the Top 4 Worst Hollywood Wives
Host: Brett Cooper
Date: September 8, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Brett Cooper ranks her top four "worst" Hollywood wives, analyzing how their public behavior towards their husbands exemplifies cultural trends in marriage and relationships. The focus is on how these high-profile women publicly mock, emasculate, or undermine their husbands, using their relationships to build their own brands—often at the expense of the men involved. Brett weaves in examples from each marriage, connects these celebrity trends to similar behaviors on social media, and discusses the broader consequences for societal values around partnership and respect.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction: Hollywood Wives as Cautionary Tales

• Brett frames the conversation (00:00), noting these women can serve as examples of what not to do in marriage—inspiring a lesson in how not to treat one’s spouse.
• Criteria for Ranking: Public persona, online presence, behavior towards their husbands.

#3: Hilaria Baldwin — Public Mockery and Social Media Skits

• Background: Known for faking a Spanish accent and reinventing her identity for the spotlight, Hilaria Baldwin is described as a "meme" and a "terrible actor."

  "She is a far worse actor than her husband Alec Baldwin is. But that has not stopped her." (01:43)

• Key Issue: Building an online persona by humiliating her husband, Alec Baldwin—through reality TV and social media.
• Notable Moments & Quotes:
  • Instagram Skits: Alec Baldwin appears in humiliating scenarios (dressing as a maid, acting as a baby).
  • Brett’s commentary: "Is this how bad his career has gotten? That he just has to do whatever his wife says?...No, grow a pair." (03:02)
  • Foot-Rubbing Video: "At the very end as he is rubbing her feet...this poor man looks miserable." (03:39)
  • Red Carpet Moment:

    Hilaria (to Alec): "When I'm talking, you're not talking. This is why, yes, we'll have to like, just cut him out of the show." (05:22)
    Brett: "He is complimenting his wife and she goes, cut him out. You don't speak when I'm speaking...look how sad he looks." (05:33)

Insight: Brett positions Hilaria as an example of "weird social media mockery," emphasizing the negative effect public disrespect has on a partner, especially when repeated for public amusement.

#2: Jada Pinkett Smith — Public Humiliation and Airing Dirty Laundry

• Background: Jada is critiqued primarily for airing extremely private marital issues—especially her affair with her son's friend—on her podcast ("The Red Table Talk"), often with Will Smith present and visibly uncomfortable.

• Key Moments:

  • Entanglement Podcast (06:45–08:25):

    Jada: "I got into a different kind of entanglement with August." (07:50) Brett: "This man is sitting on her podcast being filmed as he has to process all of this." (08:00)

  • Filming Will Without Consent (09:13–10:19):

    Will: "Don't just start filming me without asking me." (09:21) Jada: "If you could film. Sam, come help us again, please. I'm still dealing with foolishness." (09:26) Will: "My social media presence is my bread and butter, okay? So you can't just use me for social media..." (10:03)

• Takeaways:

  • Pattern of Degradation: Jada repeatedly puts Will in situations where he is publicly emasculated or humiliated.
  • Societal Double Standard: Brett posits that if the roles were reversed, societal condemnation would be swift and sharp.
  • Will’s Memoir: Will himself writes, "I don't suggest our path for anyone," indicating dysfunction despite later rationalizations (11:20).

Insight: Brett asserts that publicizing grievances and humiliating a spouse in search of validation or attention erodes trust and respect in marriage.

#1: Meghan Markle — Destroying Heritage and Legacy

• Background: Meghan is critiqued not for direct personal attacks on Harry, but for publicly attacking and severing his connections to the royal family, British traditions, and his identity.

• Key Moments:

  • Mocking Royal Traditions:

    Brett: "She is mocking his entire family. Again, his heritage. The royal family...And he's sitting here. Look at his face again. This is the trademarked look for all of these men. It is the sadness. It is the bags under the eyes." (15:26)

  • Racism Allegations on Oprah:

    Brett: "She wanted to have this huge scandal because she wasn't fitting into the royal family. She wanted to build her brand on the rubble of his family..." (17:33)

  • Contradiction in Harry's Memoir:

    "But the most important thing that came out of that memoir was the lack of that entire story, a lack of this alleged racism..." (18:13)

• Takeaways:

  • Exaggerated or Baseless Allegations: Brett notes a disconnect between Markle's public claims and Harry’s later clarifications.
  • Enabling: Harry is blamed for permitting Markle’s behavior and its dramatic impact on his family.

Insight: The most damage comes not from marital bickering but from actions that "blow up an entire family legacy for personal gain."

Honorable Mention: Michelle Obama — Subtle, Persistent Public Chiding

• Background: Initially not in the top three, but reconsidered due to consistent public jabs at Barack Obama spanning years, including from early campaign speeches and her podcast.
• Key Quotes:
  • Michelle (2007):

    "There's the Barack Obama that lives with me in my home. And that guy's a little less impressive. For some reason, this guy still can't manage to put the butter up when he makes toast, secure the bread so that it doesn't get stale, and his five-year-old is still better at making the bed than he is." (21:39)

• Critical Analysis:
  • Brett critiques the long-term effect of public "chiding," differentiating between affectionate playfulness and emasculating public critique.
  • "That is not the formula to having a healthy marriage." (22:40)

Cultural & Generational Trends: From Celebrities to TikTok

• Public Mockery as Validation:
  • Brett draws parallels between celebrity behavior and the increasing social media trend where women mock husbands for laughs and likes.

    "Wives are gonna do things that annoy their husbands. Husbands are gonna do things that annoy their wives. A husband, and I can't believe I have to say this, is not a punching bag. He's not a punchline for views." (25:25)

• Double Standard:
  • It’s easier and more "acceptable" for women to publicly criticize men—men could not get away with the same.
  • Social media amplifies these behaviors, normalizing public disrespect in relationships.
• Importance of Gratitude:
  • Brett cites research showing gratitude and appreciation lower the likelihood of divorce and counteract negative trends in marriage. (27:22)
  • "Just being grateful and having a decent amount of respect can go a long way." (28:05)

Broader Lessons & Final Reflections

• Celebrity couples can serve as cautionary tales, not role models.
• Public humiliation is not empowerment or 'speaking one’s truth;’ it’s often disrespect, even abuse.
• Healthy marriages require private respect, public support, and gratitude, not using one’s partner as a punchline for external validation.

  "Do not shame your partner in public just because it is popular, because it is cool, because it can get you 14 clicks on social media. I promise, for the sake of your relationship, for the sake of your marriage, it is not worth it." (29:01)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Hilaria Baldwin:

  "I feel bad for him...he looks miserable." (03:39) "She is a terrible actor. She is a far worse actor than her husband Alec Baldwin is." (01:54)

• On Jada Pinkett Smith:

  Will: "Don't just start filming me without asking me." (09:21)
  Brett: "This is a caged man." (09:34)

• On Meghan Markle:

  "She wanted to build her brand on the rubble of his family..." (17:33)
  "She is not publicly degrading him. But again, what I think she has done to his legacy, to his future, is arguably even worse." (13:25)

• On Michelle Obama:

  Michelle: "...this guy still can't manage to put the butter up when he makes toast..." (21:39)
  Brett: "That is not the formula to having a healthy marriage." (22:40)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• (00:00–01:45) — Introduction, criteria for ranking
• (01:45–05:33) — Hilaria Baldwin analysis and examples
• (06:45–11:20) — Jada Pinkett Smith: Entanglement, podcasting, Will’s discomfort
• (15:26–18:13) — Meghan Markle: Mocking monarchy, Oprah racism allegations, fallout
• (21:39–22:40) — Michelle Obama: Early public criticism of Barack, discussion of limits of public teasing
• (23:04–28:10) — Broader trends: Social media wives mocking husbands, cultural double standards, importance of gratitude in marriage

Conclusion

Brett Cooper’s ranking and commentary critiques how a subset of high-profile women use public platforms to tear down their husbands, examining the consequences both for the individuals involved and for a culture increasingly normalizing disrespect in marriage. Using both celebrity anecdotes and social trends, Brett advocates for gratitude, respect, and keeping marital issues private—not just for celebrity couples, but for everyone.