Alex Cooper, the “Call Her Daddy” host who built Unwell into one of the most powerful independent media companies in podcasting, has moved into fully self-produced competition television. According to Variety, “Unwell Winter Games” is a four-episode YouTube series that brings 16 “polarizing” pop culture personalities together at a luxury chalet in Park City, Utah, to compete in a series of mental and physical challenges over four days. Competitors are split into two teams — purple and blue — with one team taking home a final prize and individuals competing for cash prizes throughout.
The series is hosted by YouTube comedian Adam Waheed, with commentary from Graydon Cutler and Grace O’Malley. All four episodes dropped daily on the Unwell YouTube channel starting April 6, completely free, per Variety.
The casting philosophy is straightforward: bring in the people the internet cannot stop talking about, for better or worse. Here is who showed up.
The Cast
Dakota Mortensen – “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives”
Mortensen is currently at the center of one of the biggest controversies in reality TV. According to Variety, his ex-girlfriend Taylor Frankie Paul was set to star as “The Bachelorette” before a 2023 video surfaced showing her throwing metal stools at him in the presence of her daughter, leading ABC to suspend production on Season 22. His willingness to step onto a competition show in the middle of that storm signals either confidence or chaos. Possibly both.
Demi Engemann – “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives”
According to Variety, Engemann appeared on “Mormon Wives” but exited ahead of Season 5 following multiple controversies, including a defamation lawsuit from “Vanderpump Villa” star Marciano Brunette. She and Dakota arriving together from the same universe makes the MomTok corner of the chalet immediately combustible.
Anna Delvey – Con Artist, Influencer
The original scammer influencer. Anna Delvey — real name Anna Sorokin — served prison time for defrauding New York’s elite, per widely reported coverage, and has since built a new media presence, including her own Netflix docuseries. She is competing here as herself, which is the only role she has ever really played.
Saraya Bevis – WWE Superstar
The professional wrestler brings a physical dimension to the competition that most of the influencer cast will not be prepared for. She is arguably the most legitimately athletic person in the chalet and the safest bet in anything involving actual physical challenges.
Gleb Savchenko – “Dancing With the Stars”
The longtime DWTS pro has been a fixture on the show for years, as well known for the off-set drama surrounding his marriage as for his choreography. He brings discipline, charisma, and a history of stirring things up without appearing to try.
Huda Mustafa and Louis Russell – “Love Island USA” / “Too Hot to Handle”
Huda broke out on “Love Island USA” and was dating Louis Russell of “Too Hot to Handle” and “Perfect Match” during filming of “Winter Games.” making them one of two real-life couples walking into the competition together. Competing as a couple in a team format is either an advantage or a target on their backs.
Joe Amabeile and Serena Pitt – “The Bachelor” Franchise
Grocery Store Joe — the man who became a fan phenomenon simply by looking confused on “The Bachelorette” — is now married to Serena Pitt, a fellow Bachelor alum and his co-competitor here. They are the second real-life couple in the cast, and their dynamic with Huda and Louis will define one of the season’s central alliance threads.
Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu and Eyal Booker — “Love Island UK”
Two “Love Island UK” veterans who bring international reality TV credibility to a cast that skews heavily American. Ekin-Su won “Love Island UK” Season 8 and became one of its most recognizable stars globally. Eyal competed in Season 4.
Juliette Porter — “Siesta Key” / “Perfect Match”
A “Siesta Key” veteran best known for her feud with Kelsey Owens, Juliette later appeared on “Perfect Match,” where she dated “Love Island” star Scott van der Sluis before a late flip that fans are still talking about.
Alissa Violet — YouTuber / Creator
One of the original YouTube era personalities, Alissa was part of Jake Paul’s Team 10 before drama surrounding her and Logan Paul made headlines across the internet. She later appeared in the Netflix documentary “Untold: Jake Paul the Problem Child”
Hannah Stocking — OG Viner / Creator
One of Vine’s original comedy breakouts, Hannah has since built a massive presence on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. She is the comedian of the group — the person most likely to generate a moment that clips perfectly out of context.
Hallie Batchelder — Podcaster / TikTok Creator
One of the most opinionated voices in creator culture, Hallie built her audience on unfiltered takes. Putting her in a chalet with Anna Delvey and Dakota Mortensen is either brilliant casting or a controlled demolition.
Dylan Kevitch — TikTok Creator
A TikTok personality who brings a younger creator demographic into a cast that blends legacy reality TV with the influencer world.
Cameron Jerrard, Andrew Vetter, and Niko Emanuilidis — Special Guests / Influencers
The three appear in a special guest capacity rather than as full competitors.
Andrew Vetter notably replaced “Love Island” star Kendall Washington, who had to drop out last-minute due to travel issues — a switch that briefly sparked rumors online about whether the change was staged.
Where to Watch
All four episodes of “Unwell Winter Games” are streaming free on the Unwell YouTube channel now.
Image credit: Anna Delvery/Instagram
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