Call Her Daddy host Alexandra Cooper desperately backtracks on 'softball' Kamala Harris interview

Call Her Daddy host Alexandra Cooper has been forced to defend her controversial interview with Kamala Harris after listener backlash. 

The podcaster 30, sat down with the vice president for an episode released on Sunday. 

Some viewers criticized the interview for its 'softball' questioning and lack of focus on two issues Harris is seemingly weak on - the war in Gaza and the federal government's response to Hurricane Helene.

A number of viewers even vowed to stop subscribing to her podcast, which is one of the biggest in American.  

After the show was aired, Cooper rushed to released a behind-the-scenes video on Instagram explaining she 'couldn't hit every policy' with Harris, and chose to focus the interview almost entirely on women's issues. 

'I totally understand everyone has different political opinions, but I feel really good that the entire episode is about women.' 

'Come with me to interview the Vice President of the United States,' Cooper began the clip. 'It's just another interview... it's fine.' 

'When I started Call Her Daddy, I really didn't see it heading in the direction where I would be sitting down with the vice president,' she continued. 

'But like, dream big kids.'  

The host took viewers through her pre-interview routine, as she prepped for the 'cozy' conversation in the rain while her team re-assembled her studio in Washington DC. 

After showing off the room, Cooper said she was then told her interview with Harris had to be delayed by over five hours as Harris has had 'national matters to attend to.' 

She said she waited out the delay with an Arnold Palmer - a drink of ice tea and lemonade - while she 'kept prepping for the interview.' 

After getting the call to start the show, Cooper said she was 'nervous and excited.'  

'I know I'm just going to do my best,' she said. 'I know not everyone is going to be pleased with what I say and do, but we're keeping this Call Her Daddy.' 

Cooper showed the moment she met Harris and shook her hand, before cutting to her post-interview thoughts while at Dulles Airport. 

'I have never in my life felt like an interview went by so fast,' she said. 

With some criticizing the interview's questioning, Cooper admitted that she 'couldn't hit every policy' with the vice president, but justified her approach as she said she wanted to keep the focus on women. 

'I did what I knew would apply to the Daddy gang,' she continued. 'And I talked about women.' 

'I totally understand everyone has different political opinions, but I feel really good that the entire episode is about women.' 

But while Cooper said she felt 'really good' about the episode, some viewers disagreed as they slammed her 'softball' questions and decision to turn her popular podcast political. 

Cooper also faced backlash for her admission that she has also extended an interview invite to Donald Trump, and her decision to wear a hoodie in the interview - something she routinely does on her show, but some felt she should have dressed up for the occasion. 

After sharing the interview, one person commented on the video: 'I'm so disappointed, this feels like propaganda and trying to make her look 'gen z'. 

'You're gonna look back on this one day and regret it when we are in a war because of her. SMH, truly smh. You just lost a lot of respect.' 

Others noted that it seemed in bad taste given the Biden-Harris administration's response to the devastation left by Hurricane Helene.

'Wow shame on you! You sold your soul on this one while people need help you had this lady on a pod cast,' one fan wrote.

'I hope everyone unfollows you and no one watches your crap pod cast ever again.'

However, some joined the online fracas to support Cooper and the show, noting that Cooper has spoken in favor of abortion rights, which a Harris spokesperson confirmed was on the agenda.

'Fascinating that people are shocked that a woman who has talked about abortion rights for years would interview a woman Vice President who is running for President about abortion rights?! It's like being shocked that Charlotte Tilbury is doing someone's makeup.'

'Imagine boycotting someone for having a presidential nominee on their show,' wrote another. 'You should be proud of your girl. You don't have to like and agree with every guest.'

In the interview, Harris avoided the show's typically raunchy, sexual content while speaking with Cooper, who allowed the vice president to repeat her typical talking points on abortion rights and student debt. 

She said of her combined family with husband Doug Emhoff and his two adult children: 'This is not the 1950s anymore. We have family by blood and family by love.'

Harris also reacted to J.D. Vance's comments about 'childless cat ladies' running the country by saying: 'I just think it's mean.' 

The interview is the latest in a series of less traditional media appearances by the vice president as she mounts her bid for the White House.

Shortly before her Call Her Daddy interview, the vice president also sat down with former basketball players Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes for a special episode of their 'All the Smoke' podcast in a wide-ranging interview that lasted roughly 45 minutes.

During the episode released Monday, the three discussed Harris' loyalty to the Golden State Warriors but also branched off to address a series of other topics from policies to her family and racial identity.

It comes as Harris is faced criticism for largely avoiding tough interviews with reporters who would grill her on the issues while opting instead to appear on friendlier platforms as she works to reach voters across the country.