While he lived in Vancouver during his peak Brand years, the pandemic changed priorities. Border restrictions, remote work normalization, and family considerations made a cross-border professional arrangement exhausting. Sources close to Cooper noted that he wanted to be closer to his U.S.-based clients and family, reducing the constant travel and visa complexities.

A quiet, amicable split allowed Cooper to relocate without burning bridges—something he has successfully maintained (he still follows and occasionally comments on Brand members’ posts). Even before leaving, Cooper was developing his own line of educational products and barber tools. At a certain point, those side projects began to compete with Brand’s commercial interests.

If you follow the niche but passionate world of men’s grooming, fashion, or lifestyle media, you’ve likely seen the question echoing across Reddit, YouTube comments, and Twitter threads: Why did Cooper leave Brand?

Post-departure, Cooper’s personal channel and Instagram Reels became laser-focused on education (e.g., “How to fix a crooked fade” or “Shear work deep dive”). Meanwhile, Brand pivoted further into product launches and entertainment. It appears Cooper simply wanted to teach, while Brand wanted to entertain and sell. This is often overlooked. The Brand of Brothers is physically rooted in Vancouver, Canada . Cooper, however, has deep ties to the United States (specifically the Pacific Northwest).