Kyle Cooke Explains Story Behind Viral Laughing Pic With Estranged Wife Amanda Batula: ‘Therapy’

Yes, Kyle Cooke has seen the chatter surrounding his now-viral laughing photos with estranged wife Amanda Batula — and he’s setting the record straight.

“Alright, some of you have your tinfoil hats on, so I’m going to respond to the picture of me and Amanda laughing and smiling as we walk out from the In the City reunion,” Cooke, 43, said in a video shared via Instagram Stories on Saturday, June 13, referring to the images captured earlier this week. “It was a pretty chaotic, action-packed reunion for a season 1 show, and you guys have a lot to look forward to, not only in the season but the reunion.”

Cooke and Batula, 34, were spotted smiling and linking arms as they exited the studio on Thursday, June 11.

“Amanda was in the hot seat, and she opened up a lot more than I would say she did in Summer House,” Cooke explained on Saturday, referring to the three-part season 10 reunion that finished airing Tuesday, June 9. “I was in the hot seat, a lot of people were in the hot seat and we all decided to go get a drink together. Like, group therapy after you, kind of, leave it all out there.”

He continued, “Amanda and I were headed down the elevator, walking out the door and just kind of laughing, like, ‘Can you imagine if there’s a photographer that captures us walking out together?’ And then, boom, that’s exactly what happened. That causes us to laugh even harder, and yes, that’s all that there was to it, guys. That’s all there was to it, my God.”

Cooke and Batula announced in January that they have separated after four years of marriage. Just two months later, Batula confirmed her new romance with Summer House costar West Wilson, who previously dated the swimsuit designer’s BFF Ciara Miller.

Cooke, Batula, Wilson, 31, and Miller, 30, all came face-to-face for the Summer House reunion, where they detailed their sides of the romantic drama. Cooke and Wilson, for their parts, will also sit down in a follow-up special, titled “The Aftermath,” later this month. Batula will speak with Lindsay Hubbard in the upcoming Tuesday, June 16, episode.

“Kyle and Lindsay met up first in person [before filming] and talked about rising above it all and getting to the bottom of the drama,” a source recently told Us Weekly exclusively. “They don’t feel there were answers at the reunion. They are concerned about Amanda. They don’t trust West.”

Per the insider, Cooke “wanted answers” from Wilson upon their onscreen conversation.

“When Kyle met up with West, he wanted answers. He asked him if he loves Amanda and if he’d watch out for her, and if he is serious about her and if this has been worth it,” the insider told Us, adding that Hubbard, 39, had the “same conversation” with Batula. “Lindsay … asked her if she was sure she wanted to continue with the relationship with West because of what they had been hearing. Even after the meeting, Lindsay and Amanda are still figuring out their friendship.”