For years, Nick Viall has positioned himself as podcasting’s blunt truth-teller and the previous actuality TV villain who turned heartbreak right into a booming media empire.
Nevertheless, as his podcast “The Viall Information” continues to dominate downloads and land main celeb visitors, a wave of insider criticism is threatening to chip away at that polished model.
From accusations of hypocrisy to backlash over deeply private interview questions, Nick’s fastidiously constructed platform is dealing with certainly one of its most uncomfortable moments but.
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Inside Nick Viall’s Rise From Actuality TV Runner-Up To Podcast Mogul
Earlier than the podcast empire, there was “Bachelor Nation.” Nick Viall first appeared on “The Bachelorette” in 2014, competing for Andi Dorfman’s coronary heart.
He made it to the finale however misplaced to Josh Murray. He returned the next season for Kaitlyn Bristowe, solely to complete second once more, with winner Shawn Sales space calling him conceited, cocky, and manipulative on digicam.
His redemption arc started on “Bachelor in Paradise,” finally resulting in his starring function as “The Bachelor” in 2017.
After proposing to Vanessa Grimaldi, the connection ended lower than a yr later.
By 2019, Nick pivoted. He launched “The Viall Information,” providing courting recommendation and recapping actuality TV drama.
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The present exploded in reputation, amassing greater than 250 million downloads worldwide. In 2024, he expanded additional, launching Envy Media and constructing a podcast community.
A four-year Libsyn deal reportedly price $30 million cemented his standing as a serious participant within the audio media trade. Nevertheless, as his enterprise grew, so did scrutiny.
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Nick And Natalie Pleasure Face Fallout Over Austen Kroll Interview
The newest uproar stemmed from a January 7 episode that includes “Southern Appeal” star Austen Kroll.
Throughout the interview, the dialog shifted unexpectedly to the childhood demise of Kroll’s sister, Kyle, who misplaced her life after falling from a cliff throughout a household hike.
Nick Viall’s spouse, Natalie Pleasure Viall, requested Kroll, “What was this cliff?” The second left listeners unsettled.
Kroll appeared visibly uncomfortable earlier than responding, “I gained’t even say the identify of the city.”
The YouTube backlash was swift. One prime remark learn, “Natalie, that was essentially the most unprofessional and impolite segway (sic) right into a query about his sister I’ve ever seen. Extraordinarily insensitive.”
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One other listener wrote, “You guys couldn’t be extra careless together with your phrases. Austen was so type as you each had been so careless and flippant about his grief.”
A 3rd remark was even harsher, calling them “TERRIBLE PEOPLE.” Regardless of the criticism, neither Nick nor Natalie issued a proper apology.
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Nick Viall’s Co-Host Beneath Fireplace As Critics Query {Qualifications}
Natalie, who started courting Nick when she was 20 and he was 38, has more and more develop into a lightning rod for criticism.
The couple married and welcomed their daughter, River Rose Viall, in February 2024.
Nonetheless, insiders describe her as having “no {qualifications}” and missing the empathy required for troublesome interviews.
Popular culture commentator Jordy Cray instructed the Every day Mail completely, “For me, I simply don’t suppose they’re that educated in regards to the topics they select to carry on to their platform.”
He continued, “I imply, they’ve very spectacular visitors, however I don’t suppose they’re effectively versed in no matter they’re discussing, and I don’t suppose that they’re outfitted to deal with the empathy that’s required in sure conversations.”
Josh Banfield provided a extra measured take. “I’m reluctant to purchase into the narrative that the girl ruined every little thing,” he mentioned.
Nevertheless, he instructed that when Natalie joined completely, it appeared as if she had no {qualifications} or understanding of learn how to speak about this stuff in an empathetic manner.
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Nick’s Sample Of Controversy Extends Past One Episode
This isn’t the primary time “The Viall Information” has confronted backlash. In December 2025, Nick Viall and his spouse had been accused of “mom-shaming” Whitney Leavitt after questioning how she would steadiness motherhood with a Broadway function in Chicago.
Natalie requested“She simply did Dancing With the Stars for 3 or 4 months. She has children on a faculty degree – possibly they’re homeschooled. I don’t know. To shift to Chicago in New York, that takes a lot of her time. How is she managing being a mother?”
She continued, “How is she managing, prioritizing being a mother and her children who I think about have some kind of schedule and routine? And I do know their residence base was Utah… I’m simply so curious.”
Listeners accused the pair of making use of a double customary, suggesting a father won’t face comparable questioning. No public apology adopted.
Throughout a reunion particular, he defended his questioning by saying the “perceived lack of accountability of Whitney is one thing that I wished to have an opportunity to deal with along with her.”
In the meantime, Nick has constructed a lot of his status on urgent visitors arduous. When Tom Sandoval appeared following his dishonest scandal, the podcast host made clear he meant to carry him accountable.
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Nick Viall’s Accountability Model Now Faces Hypocrisy Claims
The strain between model and habits is what critics say fuels the backlash.
Midori Collusion, who has about 10,200 followers on TikTok, argued, “For my part, it’s the hypocrisy that has rubbed folks the fallacious manner.”
She famous that Nick regularly dispenses life and relationship recommendation, usually urging callers to take duty.
“They’re creating and monetizing content material based mostly on the troublesome moments in different peoples’ lives, and holding themselves out as authorities on human relationships, and but they don’t appear to observe what they preach,” she mentioned.
Cray was much more blunt. “I feel that the saddest half about all that is that I don’t suppose Nick or Natalie even care in regards to the backlash, as a result of all they care about is numbers at this level,” he mentioned, suggesting controversy could merely drive extra site visitors.