Franklyn’s account, reported by Page Six, places the dinner during Syndergaard’s time with the New York Mets, when he and Cooper were reportedly on a break. Franklyn writes that Cooper believed the invitation might lead to a reconciliation. At first, Franklyn thought she had been invited along. She says she soon understood that Cooper wanted her to take pictures in what she described as “paparazzi-type sh-t.”
According to the memoir excerpt, Cooper explained: “He’s just such a sh-t, and I want to have them in case I need to send them to his mom.” Franklyn says she agreed and photographed the pair. She writes that the image later appeared on a “Z-list sports coverage site that covers women linked to semi-famous athletes.” Page Six linked that description to a January 2018 Busted Coverage article, which credited an anonymous tipster with sending in a photograph of Cooper and Syndergaard. Franklyn says she did not send it and claims only she and Cooper had access to the image.
The episode predates the launch of “Call Her Daddy” later in 2018. Cooper and Franklyn went on to co-host the podcast, but their partnership fractured during contract negotiations with Barstool Sports in 2020. Franklyn left, while Cooper continued hosting and retained the show’s intellectual property under a subsequent agreement.
“Daddy Issues,” released Tuesday, November 10, revisits that split as well as the former co-hosts’ personal relationship. In a March YouTube video, Franklyn said she needed distance before she could tell her story honestly and “ego-removed.” “I needed to grow up,” she said. Cooper offered her account in the 2025 Hulu docuseries “Call Her Alex,” saying she wanted to accept the deal during the dispute while Franklyn did not. Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has also said Franklyn declined the offer.
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