Sara Haines' Bold DM to Kyle Cooke Receives Brief Reply, Sparks 'The View' Discussion

by : Ta-Nehisi Coates

Sara Haines, a cohost on the popular talk show 'The View,' recently shared a candid story about her attempt to connect with 'Summer House' personality Kyle Cooke. Her direct message, which she described as quite extensive, received a surprisingly brief response from the reality TV star, leading to an amusing and insightful discussion among her colleagues.

During a recent episode of the 'View' companion podcast, 'Behind the Table,' Haines, along with producer Brian Teta and cohost Alyssa Farah Griffin, delved into the details of this social media interaction. Haines had previously mentioned reaching out to Cooke after becoming invested in his storyline during the tenth season of 'Summer House.' Teta characterized Haines' initial message as a "manifesto," a sentiment echoed by Griffin, who humorously compared its length to the Iran nuclear deal memorandum of understanding.

The trio's banter continued as Teta prompted Haines to reveal the specifics of Cooke's reply. Haines admitted the response was "short," though Griffin quickly interjected with a "sweet!" Haines then clarified that Cooke's message was indeed appreciative of her support. However, Teta offered a more direct interpretation of Cooke's concise note: "Basically, 'Not going to read that essay, but, thanks for reaching out.'"

Griffin humorously suggested that Cooke's brevity might have been influenced by Haines' social media presence. "Honestly, if you didn't have your kids and husband prominently featured, he probably would've given you a lengthier response and flirted back," Griffin remarked, drawing laughter from Haines.

Haines then took a moment to explain her genuine motivations behind contacting Cooke. She expressed profound empathy for his on-screen struggles, particularly his challenges with alcohol and what she perceived as self-medication. Haines highlighted instances where Cooke seemed to be reaching out for understanding, saying, "I have a hard time watching Kyle trying to get people to listen to him... He's clearly self-medicating, and when he goes on to say things, he says over and over, like, 'Am I crazy? Does no one see this?' I felt the need to scream at my TV, 'I see you. I hear you.' Because he was being completely bullied and demeaned and excused."

Haines further revealed that Cooke's personal journey, including his tumultuous relationship with Amanda Batula and their eventual separation, deeply affected her. Despite initial criticisms leveled at Cooke by viewers regarding his treatment of Batula, subsequent revelations about Batula's relationship with West Wilson, a friend of Cooke's and ex-partner of their co-star Ciara Miller, added layers of complexity to the 'Summer House' narrative, further solidifying Haines' sympathy for Cooke's situation.

In a lighthearted yet revealing exchange on 'The View' companion podcast 'Behind the Table,' cohost Sara Haines detailed her direct message interaction with 'Summer House' star Kyle Cooke. What began as a heartfelt outreach from Haines, described by her colleagues as an extensive 'manifesto' expressing concern for Cooke's on-screen challenges, culminated in a succinct, polite, and ultimately humbling reply. This brief exchange prompted a humorous discussion about the nature of celebrity DMs and the perceived lack of engagement when family details are prominently displayed, highlighting Haines' genuine empathy for Cooke's personal struggles depicted on the reality series.