Unmasking Authenticity: Alex Cooper’s Digital Editing Confession Sparks Social Media Discourse
Alex Cooper, the co-host of the popular podcast ‘Call Her Daddy’, declared her decision to cease editing her Instagram photos following a viral video that ‘exposed’ her for digitally altering an image.
In the latest episode of her Spotify-exclusive show, titled “I Got Caught Photoshopping,” Cooper candidly admitted to using the Facetune app to edit a photo from her birthday celebration. She confessed feeling “uncomfortable” with her appearance in the original picture, acknowledging that she had edited photos of herself previously.
The controversy erupted when a viral TikTok compared two versions of the same photo – one edited by Cooper and the other unedited, shared by her friend Lauren in a “photo dump” from their trip to Las Vegas. Cooper revealed waking up to a distressing Instagram message urging her to harm herself, accompanied by a link to TikTok. The specific TikTok referenced was not immediately identified.
A TikTok video by user @jillyyyygirllll, uploaded on August 27, garnered significant attention by juxtaposing the altered and unaltered birthday photos of Cooper, amassing over 184,000 likes and sparking discussions on unrealistic body standards perpetuated by social media.
While some criticized Cooper for contributing to these standards, others defended her, attributing the pressure to conform to societal norms rather than individual actions. Cooper disclosed abstaining from watching the video or engaging with negative comments on TikTok since the incident.
Reflecting on the incident during the podcast, Cooper recounted feeling discontent with her body in the photos taken during a night out in Vegas, prompting her to edit the image before posting it online. Despite acknowledging the repercussions of her actions, she pledged to refrain from editing photos for Instagram in the future, hoping to inspire others to embrace authenticity over digital alterations.
Addressing potential skepticism regarding her motives, Cooper emphasized the significance of her revelation as an opportunity for self-reflection and personal growth.