Nick Viall’s Empire Shaken By Brutal Insider Claims
By Chukwudi Onyewuchi on February 16, 2026 at 9:45 AM EST
For years, Nick Viall has positioned himself as podcasting’s blunt truth-teller and the former reality TV villain who turned heartbreak into a booming media empire.
However, as his podcast “The Viall Files” continues to dominate downloads and land major celebrity guests, a wave of insider criticism is threatening to chip away at that polished brand.
From accusations of hypocrisy to backlash over deeply personal interview questions, Nick’s carefully constructed platform is facing one of its most uncomfortable moments yet.
Inside Nick Viall’s Rise From Reality TV Runner-Up To Podcast Mogul
Before the podcast empire, there was “Bachelor Nation.” Nick Viall first appeared on “The Bachelorette” in 2014, competing for Andi Dorfman’s heart.
He made it to the finale but lost to Josh Murray. He returned the following season for Kaitlyn Bristowe, only to finish second again, with winner Shawn Booth calling him arrogant, cocky, and manipulative on camera.
His redemption arc began on “Bachelor in Paradise,” eventually leading to his starring role as “The Bachelor” in 2017.
After proposing to Vanessa Grimaldi, the relationship ended less than a year later.
By 2019, Nick pivoted. He launched “The Viall Files,” offering dating advice and recapping reality TV drama.
The show exploded in popularity, amassing more than 250 million downloads worldwide. In 2024, he expanded further, launching Envy Media and building a podcast network.
A four-year Libsyn deal reportedly worth $30 million cemented his status as a major player in the audio media industry. However, as his business grew, so did scrutiny.
Nick And Natalie Joy Face Fallout Over Austen Kroll Interview
The most recent uproar stemmed from a January 7 episode featuring “Southern Charm” star Austen Kroll.
During the interview, the conversation shifted unexpectedly to the childhood death of Kroll’s sister, Kyle, who lost her life after falling from a cliff during a family hike.
Nick Viall’s wife, Natalie Joy Viall, asked Kroll, “What was this cliff?” The moment left listeners unsettled.
Kroll appeared visibly uncomfortable before responding, “I won’t even say the name of the town.”
The YouTube backlash was swift. One top comment read, “Natalie, that was the most unprofessional and rude segway [sic] into a question about his sister I’ve ever seen. Extremely insensitive.”
Another listener wrote, “You guys could not be more careless with your words. Austen was so kind as you both were so careless and flippant about his grief.”
A third comment was even harsher, calling them “TERRIBLE PEOPLE.” Despite the criticism, neither Nick nor Natalie issued a formal apology.
Nick Viall’s Co-Host Under Fire As Critics Question Qualifications
Natalie, who began dating Nick when she was 20 and he was 38, has increasingly become a lightning rod for criticism.
The couple married and welcomed their daughter, River Rose Viall, in February 2024.
They later announced they were expecting twins after Natalie publicly shared she had suffered three miscarriages in 2025.
Still, insiders describe her as having “no qualifications” and lacking the empathy required for difficult interviews.
Pop culture commentator Jordy Cray told the Daily Mail exclusively, “For me, I just don’t think they’re that knowledgeable about the subjects they choose to bring on to their platform.”
He continued, “I mean, they have very impressive guests, but I don’t think they are well versed in whatever they’re discussing, and I don’t think that they’re equipped to handle the empathy that’s required in certain conversations.”
Josh Banfield offered a more measured take. “I am reluctant to buy into the narrative that the woman ruined everything,” he said.
However, he suggested that when Natalie joined permanently, it appeared as if she had no qualifications or understanding of how to talk about these things in an empathetic way.
Nick’s Pattern Of Controversy Extends Beyond One Episode
This is not the first time “The Viall Files” has faced backlash. In December 2025, Nick Viall and his wife were accused of “mom-shaming” Whitney Leavitt after questioning how she would balance motherhood with a Broadway role in Chicago.
Natalie asked, “She just did Dancing With the Stars for three or four months. She has kids on a school level – maybe they are homeschooled. I don’t know. To shift to Chicago in New York, that takes so much of her time. How is she managing being a mom?”
She continued, “How is she managing, prioritizing being a mom and her kids who I imagine have some sort of schedule and routine? And I know their home base was Utah… I’m just so curious.”
Listeners accused the pair of applying a double standard, suggesting a father might not face similar questioning. No public apology followed.
During a reunion special, he defended his questioning by saying the “perceived lack of accountability of Whitney is something that I wanted to have a chance to address with her.”
Meanwhile, Nick has built much of his reputation on pressing guests hard. When Tom Sandoval appeared following his cheating scandal, the podcast host made clear he intended to hold him accountable.
Nick Viall’s Accountability Brand Now Faces Hypocrisy Claims
The tension between brand and behavior is what critics say fuels the backlash.
Midori Collusion, who has about 10,200 followers on TikTok, argued, “In my view, it’s the hypocrisy that has rubbed people the wrong way.”
She noted that Nick frequently dispenses life and relationship advice, often urging callers to take responsibility.
“They are creating and monetizing content based on the difficult moments in other peoples’ lives, and holding themselves out as authorities on human relationships, and yet they don’t seem to practice what they preach,” she said.
Cray was even more blunt. “I think that the saddest part about all this is that I don’t think Nick or Natalie even care about the backlash, because all they care about is numbers at this point,” he said, suggesting controversy may simply drive more traffic.
