He told his Summer House friends his business was on the brink and his marriage was cracking, but it was Lindsay Hubbard’s dinner-table push that finally blew the dam Kyle Cooke had been desperately trying to hold together.
In what may have been the most explosive moment this season, Kyle is pressed about his DJ career at Lindsay’s “freedom dinner,” which she renamed the “lost supper,” where she challenged everyone at the table to name what they lost and found that summer.
After an emotional round robin—including KJ Dillard’s heart-wrenching revelation that he hadn’t felt that kind of friendship or brotherhood since his brother’s death—the game eventually turned to Kyle and, in a way, to his now-estranged wife, Amanda Batula.
“Kyle lost his wedding ring, but he found his DJ career,” Lindsay says, giving Amanda the thumbs up.
Crickets.
Looking stunned and exhausted from defending his DJ career, Kyle slowly descended into a rising rage as Lindsay continued to needle him, seemingly in Amanda’s defense, saying she wasn’t part of his career shift discussion. Kyle revealed at the table that he was in the process of securing a manager and would be performing in Las Vegas.
The table looked stunned as Lindsay asked Kyle if he had run the decision by Amanda or if he had made it on his own. Kyle tried to deflect, saying Amanda knew, but Lindsay pressed further, asking whether they had discussed it “as a partner with your wife.”
Amanda sat across the table, giggling, seemingly amused by Lindsay’s interrogation. Tension continued to build among the group, while Kyle, struggling to keep his composure, continued to be peppered with questions and advice from Lindsay.
At his boiling point, Kyle said he was tired of his DJ career being the “butt of every joke this summer,” but Lindsay continued, pointing out that he wasn’t showing traits of someone ready for a serious relationship and family life.
“The last seven years of my life, I just worked my ass off with no joy,” Kyle said after explaining that DJing is the one thing that makes him happy. “I feel like I’m under attack. This is how I’ve felt all summer long.”
He begged them to stop ganging up on him and then…“f— you,” Kyle is seen saying to Amanda across the table as Ben Waddell tried to explain how Kyle would make DJing work.
Amanda started to nervously laugh, and the table erupted into an argument. West Wilson, now in a relationship with Amanda, moved his chair closer in a protective gesture as Kyle’s temper escalated.
“In a partnership, you pull weight, she doesn’t pull any weight,” Kyle said angrily. “I’m f—ing losing my mind! I’ll smack tables all I f—ing want! You have no f—ing idea!”
The room turned more chaotic as Kyle jumped from his chair and walked away. Carl Radke tried to calm things down by telling Kyle to “chill out,” which only added fuel to the fire.
“F— everybody!” Kyle screamed. “I’m so sick and tired of normalizing how much s— I have to deal with. F— off!”
While Carl attempted to relate to Kyle, saying he was dealing with a lot too, it didn’t help. Kyle headed toward the front door with Carl and several friends close behind.
As Kyle angrily flung open the door, he set his sights on Carl, ready to come at him, setting up the summer’s long-awaited confrontation between the two friends.
Summer House is on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo.
