Real Housewives of Rhode Island star Rosie Woods slammed Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy for perpetuating the ongoing rumor that she had an affair with college basketball coach Ed Cooley.
The speculation about the affair hit a fever pitch earlier this month, when Woods’ reality TV costar Kelsey Swanson brought up Woods’ alleged “affair with a basketball coach.”
“He paid her off to not talk about the relationship, which is why he has money to buy a house that she just bought,” Swanson, 32, said during the May 17 episode of the Bravo show, without using Cooley’s name.
Portnoy, 49, waded into the waters over the weekend, unafraid to mention the Georgetown University coach.
“I’m just saying on Real Housewives of Rhode Island, Kelsey accuses Rosie of sleeping with the basketball coach, a married man, having an affair, getting paid off not to talk about said affair and that’s how she afforded her new house. Ed Cooley’s name is swirling around,” Portnoy said in a video posted via social media on Sunday, May 24.
In the wake of her alleged affair becoming a deafening reality TV talking point, Woods, 35, attempted to clear things up on Tuesday, May 26.
“I’ve been very quiet about a lot of things because it’s so stupid, but now that things are making it to straight man Twitter – thank you, David Portnoy – I figured I should say my peace,” Woods said in a video posted via Instagram. “First and foremost, I do not know Ed Cooley. I have never met Ed Cooley. I have never been in a car with Ed Cooley. I have never had an affair with Ed Cooley. He has never paid me money. He has never bought a house for me. I actually just don’t know him. I’ve never met him.”
Cooley, 56, is married to his wife, Nurys Cooley, and the couple share two children. Woods has been married to her husband, Rich DiMare, since July 2024.
“We bought our house ourselves with the money we make at our big grown up jobs,” Woods continued. “That’s how you pay for things when you’re a grown up.”
Us Weekly has reached out to Cooley for comment.
Woods went even further, insisting she’s “never had an affair with anyone,” amid other allegations that she was fired after a relationship with a co-worker was uncovered during her time as a reporter at Providence’s NBC 10 WJAR.
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“I’ve never had an affair with a co-worker, I’ve never had an affair with a higher-up,” she said. “Actually, I’ve never gotten fired!”
Woods even came with receipts, showing alleged evidence that she decided to leave her job at WJAR after going on “medical leave.”
“That’s all I’m going to be saying about this,” Woods concluded. “I don’t care about any of this stuff. None of it’s real. Keep the accusations coming. Bye, guys.”
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