They’re not trying to get activated — again.
While promoting Loverboy, Inc. in an exclusive interview with Page Six, Kyle Cooke and Amanda Batula reveal that they’re watching “Summer House” separately — for the first time — as Season 6 continues to air.
“When you watch your fights back, it’s very easy to have the same argument and that’s not something we’re trying to do,” says Batula, 30, who refused to watch the premiere episode entirely as it featured a particularly volatile fight with her now-husband, 39.
“We used to watch the episodes together. For these moments, I’m just like, ‘Let’s not watch it together. Let’s watch it separately, go through it and we can just put it in the past and move on.’”
According to Cooke, 39, catching up on the hit Bravo reality series alone is a “new strategy” — but one that seems to be healthy for the couple.
“We’ve never really done this. Watching it back, the summer was such a whirlwind. I kind of forgot just how bad it started,” says the entrepreneur, whose decision to party late without Batula — and leave dozens of her phone calls unanswered — led to heated argument, shattered toiletries and cast members debating whether the two should get married.
“We went through it for 72 hours, but we’re having to relive it over three weeks,” Batula adds.
The spouses say that suggestions from viewers that their quarrels are manufactured for the show are frustrating.
“A lot of people are like, ‘Wow, they’re really reaching to be relevant and for a storyline,” Batula laments. “If I got to choose what my path was on this show, it would not be this. It would not be fighting and potentially debating calling off the wedding. That is not the road I would go down if I was looking to be relevant.”
Cooke elaborates, “I’m proud to say we’ve never done anything for a storyline and I think that’s what makes us relatable. We do just kind of put it out there and what you see is what you get.”
Indeed, the pair have shared the good, bad and ugly sides of their romance throughout their five years on reality TV together. Despite the explosive screaming matches that have shocked fans at the start of Season 6, Cooke and Batula took steps to repair their relationship — and eventually tied the knot in September.
The duo tells Page Six that their commitment to “Summer House” ultimately helped them commit to each other.
“[The show has] helped us get through [our issues] and it’s helped us build confidence. It’s helped us become stronger. It’s helped us connect with people who might be going through something similar,” Batula notes.
Meanwhile, Cooke appreciates that the show is “a really powerful, unique way” to reflect on his actions: “I think it’s a great opportunity to actually try and improve and be a better person.”
While they’ve made efforts to keep their marriage healthy — including frequent therapy sessions — the newlyweds are also working to improve their dynamic as business partners.
After Cooke founded Loverboy Inc. in 2018, Batula, a graphic designer by trade, signed on to handle creative and marketing for the adult beverage and lifestyle brand. (“Summer House” co-star Carl Radke serves as VP of sales.)
“We are able to see each other’s needs and ways of working more now because we’ve been able to talk about that and communicate,” says Batula.
“If we have an issue or there’s something that we want to discuss, we know the proper way to approach it. There’s always room for improvement, trust me. Nothing’s perfect over here, but it’s definitely gotten a lot better.”
As they strive to keep things copacetic at home and on Zoom calls, Cooke says there is a “big focus” to expand their company in 2022 beyond their line of sparking hard teas.
“We’ve got some incredible cocktails already and have more to come. Right now, if everything goes according to plan, we’ll be in 38 states this spring,” he tells Page Six. “We want to turn Loverboy into a household name.”
“Summer House” airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.