Podcast Summary: The Brett Cooper Show - Episode 40: "The Feminists Have Turned Against Sabrina Carpenter and Sydney Sweeney"

Episode Information:

• Title: The Brett Cooper Show
• Host: Brett Cooper
• Episode: The Feminists Have Turned Against Sabrina Carpenter and Sydney Sweeney | Episode 40
• Release Date: June 16, 2025
• Description: Exploring generational shifts and cultural trends reshaping our values, behaviors, relationships, and communities through video essays and interviews.

1. Introduction and Overview

Brett Cooper opens Episode 40 by touching on various cultural tensions, including Prince Harry's frustrations, feminist backlash against the oversexualization of women, and problematic behaviors in Hollywood. He briefly shares a humorous anecdote about Joey Swole, a fitness influencer, to set the tone for the episode.

2. Joey Swole and Gym Culture

Timestamp: [00:00]

Brett introduces Joey Swole, a fitness influencer dedicated to combating negative gym behaviors. Joey addresses and calls out "bad actors" who make gyms uncomfortable, especially targeting those who oversexualize women or create an oppressive environment for newcomers.

Key Points:

• Joey Swole's Mission: Protecting gym newcomers from intimidating or inappropriate behavior.
• Case Study: Joey critiques a woman at Zara Fitness who mocks a man's workout routine.

Notable Quote:

Brett Cooper [02:29]: "So she flips around her camera. They're all sitting here laughing at this guy doing unnecessary at the gym right now. Like, y'all. I don't even understand if he's trying to surf. There's so many other ways you could have targeted your back."

Response from Zara Fitness: The woman accuses Joey of targeting minority communities to expand his business, claiming bias against black, queer, and vulnerable groups.

Brett's Analysis: Brett argues that Zara Fitness's response misses the objective criticism of making the gym environment hostile. He emphasizes that minority status should not shield individuals from accountability.

Notable Quote:

Zara Fitness (Transcript): "Joey Swole targets black, queer and vulnerable communities to expand his business. You should be ashamed."

3. Brooke Shields and Meghan Markle Panel Incident

Timestamp: [06:06]

Brett recounts a panel discussion between Brooke Shields and Meghan Markle at South by Southwest a year prior. During the panel, Brooke Shields shares her early feminist activism, contrasting it with Meghan Markle's.

Key Points:

• Brooke Shields' Anecdote:

  Brooke Shields [06:06]: "I was 11 years old... women's roles in commercials... I just found that infuriating and wrote lots of letters... they changed the commercial."

• Meghan Markle's Response:

  Meghan Markle: Describes her feminist awakening at age 11.

• Humorous Contrast: Brooke Shields highlights the difference between her activism and Meghan's experiences, leading to a lighthearted moment.

Aftermath: The podcast version of this interaction was deleted after Prince Harry's team allegedly threatened legal action against Brooke Shields for ridiculing Meghan Markle.

Notable Quote:

Brett Cooper [08:13]: "Breaking TMZ is now reporting that Prince Harry and his team of lawyers threatened Brooke Shields with a defamation of character lawsuit if she didn't remove the podcast."

Brett's Commentary: He criticizes the lengths Prince Harry and Meghan Markle go to manage their public image, referencing the Streisand Effect and advocating for moving past such conflicts.

4. Feminist Backlash Against the Oversexualization of Women

Timestamp: [07:01]

Brett shifts focus to the current feminist discourse on social media, highlighting a surprising turn where feminists are now criticizing the overt sexualization of women—a reversal from previous decades advocating for female sexual liberation.

a. Bonnie Blue and Sophie Rayn Conflict

Key Points:

• Bonnie Blue: Known for extreme stunts on OnlyFans, such as attempting to engage with thousands of men in a single day.
• Sophie Rayn's Critique:

  Sophie Rayn: Accuses Bonnie Blue of turning OnlyFans into a "clown show," arguing that the platform was meant for empowerment, not exploitation.

Brett's Insight: He suggests that while Bonnie Blue's actions are extreme, they reflect a broader issue within the sex work industry and feminist movement's conflicting messages about sexuality.

Notable Quote:

Brett Cooper: "Bonnie Blue is an extreme example of something that women like you on OnlyFans have helped create. It is not Bonnie Blue who made a joke of your Industry."

b. Sabrina Carpenter and Sydney Sweeney's Oversexualization Controversy

Key Points:

• Sabrina Carpenter:

  • Released new album cover art featuring a sexualized image.
  • Faced backlash from feminists accusing her of oversexualizing women and setting back feminist progress.

• Sydney Sweeney:

  • Collaborated with Dr. Squatch to create a "bathwater" flavored soap.
  • Faced similar criticism for sexualizing her image in advertising campaigns.

Brett's Reaction: He finds the feminists' sudden outrage ironic, especially considering past movements that promoted female sexual empowerment. Brett argues that the backlash is less about sexuality and more about the intent behind it—feminists are upset that these women are sexualizing themselves for male approval rather than empowerment.

Notable Quotes:

Brett Cooper [05:30]: "Sabrina Carpenter fully clothed kneeling... This is your line in the sand. It makes no sense."

Brett Cooper [07:45]: "They are upset that they are doing it for the benefit of men... They are betraying the feminist movement."

Brett's Conclusion: He posits that the feminist movement has shifted from empowerment and equality to dominating men, causing confusion and division between genders.

5. Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Legal Battle

Timestamp: [07:45]

Brett delves into the ongoing legal dispute between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, highlighting the intertwining relationships and potential conflicts of interest involving Scooter Braun's Hybe America.

Key Points:

• Protective Order: Blake Lively seeks to block access to private texts with Taylor Swift, alleging they are irrelevant to her case against Justin Baldoni.
• Scooter Braun's Involvement:
  • Owns a majority stake in the Agency Group, a crisis PR firm hired by Baldoni.
  • Text messages suggest a coordinated smear campaign against Blake Lively, referencing Hailey Bieber.

Brett's Analysis: He criticizes the convoluted web of relationships and potential manipulations within Hollywood, suggesting that the legal actions are less about justice and more about reputation management.

Notable Quote:

Brett Cooper [09:00]: "Now, what is even more interesting about this connection... it's an alleged smear campaign that was referenced by the company that represents Scooter Braun."

6. Overall Insights and Conclusions

Brett Cooper ties together the various threads discussed in the episode, emphasizing the hypocrisy and contradictions within current feminist movements and celebrity culture. He argues that the push against the oversexualization of women by feminists is ironic, given the historical context of female sexual empowerment movements.

Key Takeaways:

• Cultural Contradictions: Feminists are criticized for opposing oversexualization despite past advocacy for sexual liberation.
• Celebrity Influence: Actions by celebrities like Sabrina Carpenter and Sydney Sweeney are scrutinized not for their content but for the perceived motives behind them.
• Media Manipulation: The intertwining relationships in Hollywood contribute to complex legal and social disputes, often overshadowing genuine issues.

Final Thoughts: Brett encourages listeners to critically assess the motives behind social movements and celebrity actions, advocating for a more nuanced understanding of empowerment and equality.

Conclusion: In Episode 40, Brett Cooper examines the shifting landscape of feminist activism, celebrity influence, and cultural conflicts. By dissecting incidents involving fitness influencers, renowned actresses, and controversial social media behaviors, Brett highlights the complexities and contradictions inherent in modern movements for empowerment and equality.