Ava Dash of Next Gen NYC Opens Up About Her Connection with Kyle Cooke: ‘We’re Having Fun

Next Gen NYC‘s prominent figure, Ava Dash, has addressed the whispers swirling around her alleged romantic involvement with Summer House personality Kyle Cooke.

“Over the past couple of months, we’ve grown quite close,” Ava, 26, exclusively shared with Us Weekly on Wednesday, July 1, during a conversation about the upcoming season of Next Gen NYC. “We share the same circle of friends. Several of my closest pals are also his, so we’ve just been enjoying ourselves,” she disclosed.

Ava also remarked on her deepening connections with Summer House regulars Jesse Solomon and Mia Calabrese.

“We’ve had great times together at events like Coachella, and guys like Carl Radke have been incredibly nice. Last weekend at Palm Tree, we all had a blast and have just grown so close, so yeah, it’s all about fun,” she elaborated.

Pressed on whether she wished to address the romance rumors with Kyle, 43, Ava teasingly responded to Us, “What happens in the Hamptons stays in the Hamptons, at least for the time being.”

Us spotted Kyle chatting with Ava at the Palm Tree Music Festival in Southampton, New York, on Saturday, June 27. Carl, 41, was also seen mingling at the event, as well as Summer House castmates Bailey Taylor and Levi Sebree.

Rumors about Ava and Kyle come seven months after the latter announced his split from Amanda Batula after more than four years of marriage.

“After much reflection, we have mutually and amicably decided to part ways as a couple. We share this with a heavy heart and kindly ask for your grace and support while we focus on our personal growth and healing,” the former couple shared in January. “It feels ironic to ask for privacy during this time since we’ve always tried to be open and honest about our relationship, but your kindness and respect will go a long way as we try to navigate our next chapter.”

Amanda, 34, has since moved on with Summer House costar West Wilson — a relationship that has caused intense public scrutiny and controversy among the cast, as West, 31, previously dated Amanda’s now-estranged best friend, Ciara Miller. Insiders confirmed to Us last month that neither Amanda nor West will return to Summer House for season 11 following the scandal.

As for Kyle, sources exclusively told Us in June that he and Southern Charm’s Salley Carson were “hooking up” and had “a lot of chemistry.” He was also previously spotted kissing Real Housewives of Orange County alum Meghan King in April.

Despite his sightings with fellow Bravolebrities, Kyle insisted to People in June that he’s focusing on himself right now.

“I’m in my own little world at the moment,” he told the outlet. “I’m traveling a lot, so I’m not even really in a position to date in New York. I’m having fun. I will 100 percent be single this summer because I’m looking at my calendar and I’m like, ‘Yeah, there’s no chance for me to even date locally.’”

Before Kyle, Ava was linked to AEW wrestler Tyler “Hook” Senerchia last year. The reality star teased to Us that season 2 of Next Gen NYC will explore “a breakup,” although she did not specify from whom she split.

“I’m hoping that because I was so vulnerable and really showed what I was going through on camera, hopefully people that watch it will be able to relate, not too much, but you know, we’ve all been through a breakup, so it can be hard,” she shared, later teasing that she also goes through “a really big friend transformation” this season.

Next Gen NYC season 2 premiered on June 24. New episodes air Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.