Podcast Summary: The Brett Cooper Show
Episode 138: The Lie Women Are Being Sold About Divorce
Date: February 19, 2026
Host: Brett Cooper

Episode Overview

In this episode, Brett Cooper unpacks the cultural shift surrounding divorce, particularly among Gen Z and millennial women. Drawing from viral fashion brand campaigns, social media trends, and media articles, Brett argues that mainstream culture is glamorizing and trivializing divorce, turning it into a mark of empowerment rather than a painful life event. She criticizes this "divorce chic" narrative, its impact on younger generations' perceptions of marriage, and the commercialization of breakups.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Reformation 'Divorce Collection' Controversy

[00:00-02:05]

• Brett opens by discussing how Reformation—a beloved women’s clothing brand—went viral for debuting a "divorce collection" just after Valentine’s Day.
• Reaction online was split: some women celebrated it as “sexy and cool,” while others lamented the normalization of divorce.
• Brett frames this as the culmination of a cultural "divorce rebrand":

  "What is happening with Reformation is the culmination of a years long divorce rebrand and women and society, we are worse off for it." [00:30]

2. The New York Times and Gen Z Divorce Mentality

[02:05-05:40]

• Brett references a Fall 2025 New York Times article titled, “What Does Gen Z Divorce Look Like,” highlighting how quickly younger people move to end marriages and the unconventional (often non-monogamous) arrangements that are now being reported.
• She reads a viral excerpt about a “lavender marriage” (a non-romantic domestic partnership) dissolving, and mocks the absurdity of the story:

  “The opening paragraph alone was enough to kill a Victorian child.” [01:18]
  “These are adults we’re talking about, adults who walk amongst us who have normal jobs. I mean, maybe not. Maybe they're living off of welfare. I don't know.” [02:40]

• Brett is shocked at the normalization of viewing marriage as casual and flexible, especially in relation to social media's role in spreading this mindset.

3. The Impact of Social Media on Relationship Aspirations

[03:50-05:15]

• Social media is blamed for making young people believe in endless possibilities and encouraging them to compare their real lives to others' curated highlight reels:

  "Literally ending a marriage over comparing yourself to somebody else's highlight reel... they're writing about this as if it's something to aspire to or to be proud of. Like how cool for Gen Z that they get to compare themselves to others? That's not cool. That is not healthy in the slightest." [04:54]

• Mental health terminology from "pop psychology" (gaslighting, narcissism) is being used to justify divorces, diluting these serious terms into buzzwords.

4. The Rise of "Divorce Chic" on Social Media

[05:40-11:10]

• The phrase “being a divorcée before 30 is chic” goes viral, thanks in part to models and influencers like Emily Ratajkowski:

  Emily Ratajkowski: "I have to tell you, I don't think there's anything better… Congratulations." [05:59-06:50]

• Brett disputes this, suggesting that a good marriage can elevate one’s twenties and that the celebration of being divorced so young is misguided:

  "If you marry a good person who you love and who you respect, who is your best friend, then actually that elevates your 20s.” [06:54]

• TikTok and social media further glamorize divorce as something fashionable and empowering:

  TikTok Influencer: “There is nothing more chic than being divorced before 30... you'll look cooler if you leave... for the lore, it's incredible." [07:38]

• The idea that your breakup should contribute to your personal "story" or "lore" ("main character energy") is rampant.

5. Commercialization and Main-Character Syndrome

[07:50-14:53]

• Culture lauds those who "do it for the plot," prioritizing personal stories and perceived empowerment above deeper commitments.
• Brett notes the parallel between the modern desire for "main character"-style storytelling and the rise in public sharing of relationship failures:

  "Gen Z is trying to be the main character… I want to have cool lore and a cool plot and cool story." [08:10]

• Pop culture, movies, and even products now reinforce this trend. Brett references how recent popular media and memoirs center around the allure of divorce.

6. The Reformation Divorce Collection with Lara Wasser

[14:53-17:31]

• Details about the "divorce collection," especially the "Dump Him" sweatshirt—a collaboration with celebrity lawyer Lara Wasser (who represented Kim Kardashian, Ariana Grande, etc.), which sold out rapidly.
• Brett criticizes the reduction of divorce to a trivial breakup:

  "They are minimizing divorce to just breaking up with somebody. Just don't dump him. It's so easy, it's so chill, it's so casual… divorce is anything but casual.” [17:31]

• Some suggest the collection is a fundraiser for women in domestic violence situations, but Brett highlights a lack of transparency about these claims and sees it as a possible PR shield.

7. Broader Cultural Trends and Gender Double Standards

[17:31-20:00]

• The normalization and commodification of divorce extends beyond Reformation—other fashion and cosmetic brands and big box stores (Target) jump on the "Dump Him" marketing.
• Brett calls out a gender double standard: there would be an outcry if a similar “Dump Her” product was marketed to men.

8. Deeper Causes: Shifting Definitions of Marriage and Commitment

[20:00-23:00]

• Referencing the New York Times again, Brett claims many young people see marriage as a temporary or non-exclusive arrangement, not a lifelong covenant:

  "Many members of Gen Z, even the newly married, see marriage as a commitment that is neither final nor exclusive." [21:08]

• Brett argues this attitude underlies the trend, contrasting it with her belief that marriage should be a serious, ideally religious, lifelong commitment.
• She differentiates these trends from divorces that are necessary, e.g., in abusive relationships or after many years of trying.

9. The Pain Behind the Mask: Coping via Commercialization

[23:00-24:51]

• Brett suggests that the public celebration of divorce is often a mask for pain or heartbreak:

  “Rather than being publicly honest in their TikTok story times about the pain or their feelings of failure and heartbreak, they have just turned it into yet another vapid rallying cry for women that has now been commercialized by brands and it is a gross rallying cry that will only continue to hurt women and our relationship with men and marriage itself.” [23:50]

• She concludes with a strong condemnation of these trends and brands:

  "Shame on you, Reformation." [24:45]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "The opening paragraph alone was enough to kill a Victorian child." – Brett [01:18]
• “Literally ending a marriage over comparing yourself to somebody else's highlight reel… that's not healthy.” – Brett [04:54]
• Emily Ratajkowski: "I have to tell you, I don't think there's anything better. If being in your 20s is the trenches, there is nothing better than being in your 30s, still being hot, maybe having a little bit of your own money… Congratulations." [05:59-06:50]
• TikTok Influencer: “There is nothing more chic than being divorced before 30... for the lore, it's incredible.” [07:38]
• "Gen Z is trying to be the main character… I want to have cool lore and a cool plot and cool story." – Brett [08:10]
• "Reducing divorce down to just dump him is insane. People do not know what it means to be in a covenant with somebody." – Social media commenter, quoted by Brett [17:31]
• "A wardrobe piece with such obvious allure? Yeah, exactly. Nothing says sex appeal like a crew neck sweatshirt." – Brett mocking the 'Dump Him' marketing [17:31]
• “We believe that marriage is a religious construct, a religious idea. It is a covenant, you know, to death do us part. The commitment is the whole game. Therefore, God forbid, if it does fall apart, it should be devastating, it should be heartbreaking.” – Brett [21:45]
• “They think that the disillusion of the marriage and the act itself of getting a divorce is what is chic.” – Brett [23:00]
• "Shame on you, Reformation." – Brett [24:45]

Important Timestamps

• 00:00–02:05: Reformation Divorce Collection & cultural context
• 02:05–05:40: New York Times article; Gen Z's flexible view of marriage and divorce
• 05:40–07:38: Social media and influencer narratives promoting “Divorce Chic”
• 07:38–11:10: TikToks, storytelling, and the aspiration to be “main character”
• 14:53–17:31: Details and critique of the Reformation ‘Divorce Collection’
• 17:31–20:00: Broader commercial embrace of “Dump Him” messaging and double standards
• 20:00–23:00: Deeper causes; shifting definitions of marriage
• 23:00–24:51: Commercialization as emotional mask; conclusion and critique

Tone & Takeaways

Brett maintains a sardonic and exasperated tone throughout, often employing humor and mockery to spotlight what she views as cultural absurdity around divorce. While she acknowledges the necessity of divorce in extreme cases, she is highly critical of the framing of divorce as trendy, empowering, or trivial, and worries about the societal consequences of commodifying marital breakdowns for attention, status, or profit.

For listeners: This episode unpacks the glamorization and commercialization of divorce as “empowerment,” featuring viral social media examples, fashion industry stunts, and a critical examination of the shifting values that underpin today’s conversation about relationships.