Riley Gaines, Kat Timpf push back after ‘Call Her Daddy’ host suggests wives can always find better partners
Riley Gaines and Kat Timpf criticised advice from “Call Her Daddy” host Alex Cooper that women who worry they cannot find a better partner should leave that fear behind, because “the answer is always yes”. Speaking on “The Girls” podcast, Gaines argued that couples can strengthen a marriage by investing in each other, while Timpf said she could not find a better partner than her husband.
Cooper made the comments earlier this month in a discussion with actress Sophia Bush, who divorced Grant Hughes in 2023. Timpf cited her husband’s support through cancer, childbirth and her father’s funeral, and said she sees her marriage as central to her family’s wellbeing. Gaines said her own experience was that a marriage grows when both partners nurture it.
In short
- Gaines says marriages grow when partners invest in each other.
- Timpf credits her husband’s support through major life events.
- Cooper’s advice came in a discussion with Sophia Bush.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Cooper’s advice can be understood as encouraging women not to stay in an unhappy relationship merely because they fear they will never find another partner. That emphasis on self-worth and the possibility of a healthier relationship may help people consider leaving situations that no longer meet their needs.
The case against
Gaines and Timpf’s response reflects the view that lasting partnerships can be valuable in their own right and may deepen when both people invest in one another. They suggest that judging a partner by whether someone “better” is available can overlook shared history, mutual support and the wellbeing of a family.
Explained simply
Call Her Daddy is a relationship podcast hosted by Alex Cooper, who interviews guests about dating, sex and relationships. Sophia Bush, an actor who divorced Grant Hughes in 2023, appeared on the show for a discussion about relationships.
Riley Gaines is a former competitive swimmer and Kat Timpf is a writer and television commentator. Both are married, and their comments draw on their own experiences of partnership and family life.
The discussion touches on a common question in relationship advice: whether people should stay in a marriage if they fear they might not find a better partner. Views on that can differ, and the experiences of individual couples do not establish what is right for everyone.