Amanda Batula on If She’s Still Working for Kyle Cooke’s Brand

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Credit: Michael Simon/startraksphoto.com/Cover Images

The new season of Summer House isn’t far off, and the cast has promised that it will be a good time but also very different from previous seasons. Of course, many fans are looking forward to having Amanda Batula back on their screens for a new installment of the popular series. Still, she has other things going on. Now, she’s opening up about her working relationship with Kyle Cooke as well as having baby fever, thanks to Lindsay Hubbard recently giving birth to her first child.

Fans will recall that Amanda has been in charge of the Creative and Branding department for Kyle’s Loverboy brand since 2018. Of course, working with a spouse is never easy, and she has shared such in the past. 

Now, according to Bravo, Amanda is revealing that she has taken somewhat of a step back from leading the marketing for the beverage brand. She said, “I think Kyle and I both sort of agreed that it would be great for me to take a step back. Not a full step —  I’m not taking a step out. Just a step back.”

Amanda went on to explain, “I think we’re both very passionate about what we do. So we butt heads a lot.[Joining Loverboy] was great in a business sense, but not necessarily great for our relationship. So now my involvement is like big-picture stuff. So I’m hands-on on any new flavors, any new product lines, packaging.”

She also shared that they were in the process of launching a new product. Amanda said at the time, “I had my hands in the flavoring, the naming, the design, the look, the colors — all of that. So I’m really directing more. And then letting other people do the day-to-day and do the busy work.”

Amanda added, “So that way, if [Kyle and I] do have any difference of opinions, we have others involved. It’s not so much just him and I. So I’m still in the business. Still in the company. Still on the payroll. Just not the day-to-day busywork.”

Of course, taking this small step back gives Amanda time to pursue other business ventures, such as a swimwear line. According to her, “I sort of ended up having this food theme, unintentionally, so this first drop is sort of cherry-focused. It gives that all-American summer sort of feel with reds and whites.”

She continued, “The vibe feels kind of old-school and classic. And then, as we go forward, there are other fruits and vegetables that have inspired the collection.”

Regarding what the brand encompasses, she said it will have “three style tops, three style bottoms” and another in “two different colorways.” She also has plans to expand the brand in the future. 

Amanda also spoke to OK! Magazine and talked about what it’s been like to watch Lindsay’s motherhood journey. She told the outlet, “Yeah, of course. We’re constantly getting updates. We get photos. I’m dying to get over there, but I’m giving her time.”

She went on, “As much as I feel like it’s our baby, it is her baby. Hopefully, after the holidays, once little Gemma gets a little bit older, we can finally go over for a visit and just hang out with mom a bit.”

In terms of whether she has baby fever, Amanda responded by saying, “Yes. Nothing is hotter than when I see Kyle holding a baby.”

Amanda also talked to the outlet about Summer House season 9. She said, “I love seeing what moments are gonna make it. You obviously aren’t privy to everything. There’s plenty of things in that trailer that are news to me. There’s an element of surprise that I look forward to, even if it’s at my own expense.”

Regarding the trailer, she said, “I think it did a really good job of summarizing what our summer was, but it also barely scratches the surface. I feel like there’s so much more that happened, and people are gonna love it — and the reaction has been amazing so far, which is great. Nothing’s more embarrassing than a bummer of a trailer.”

Apparently, she and Kyle also plan to watch the show in separate rooms when it returns. 

Summer House returns for season 9 on Bravo on February 12th. Of course, new episodes stream the next day on Peacock.