Dave Portnoy, Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia, Zach Bryan.
Getty Images (3)Dave Portnoy he has defended Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia since they broke up Zach Bryan last month – but the founder of Barstool Sports had no idea how deep their problems ran.
“I really had no idea how difficult @BChickenfry was last year until we were taping tonight’s episode of @BFFsPod,” Portnoy, 47, shared on X on Thursday, November 7. “I know people have a lot of strong opinions about Bri but after tonight’s episode there won’t be anyone who doesn’t respect is- except him.”
Portnoy joined cohosts LaPaglia, 25, and Josh Richards for their first “BFFs” podcast episode since their split. The trio spoke out — while taking a shot — at Bryan, 28, after LaPaglia allegedly “emotionally abused” him for a year. (Us Weekly reached out to Bryan’s team about the podcast episode’s claims.)
LaPaglia said she was offered a $12 million payment by Bryan’s team to keep quiet about her experiences during their relationship. When Portnoy’s name was thrown into the mix, he stepped in. (Portnoy and Richards released a song about Bryan titled “The Youngest Man” on Wednesday, November 6.)
“He hates my guts,” Portnoy said on Thursday’s episode. “I ended up in the middle of this than I expected.”
The founder of Barstool Sports explained that as someone with a lot of “life” experience, he served as LaPaglia’s friend throughout the situation. Then the producer of the “BFFs” podcast Austin Jenkins allegedly Portnoy’s name kept coming up.
I didn’t really know how hard it was @BChickenfry last year we even filmed tonight’s episode @BFFsPod I know people have a lot of strong opinions about Bri but after tonight’s episode there will be no one to disrespect her elimination.
– Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) November 7, 2024
“I would say, this is between me and Zach. You guys keep getting pulled into it and I’m like what happens if—,” LaPaglia said. Portnoy said that when the “back and forth” about this seemingly $12 million NDA continued, he began offering advice.
“When we thought Bri was going to take the money, I was like, Get the money in your account. I don’t care about the law s—.’ “They told him at one point that they couldn’t borrow five million rand or something,” said Portnoy. “Bri, I can send you five million dollars in 10 minutes bulls—, they lie.”
LaPaglia, in the end, was “trying to make Zach” happy any way he could. However, “BFFs” producer Jenkins accused Portnoy in a tweet saying Bryan’s team was trying to “suffocate” LaPaglia before the aforementioned diss track was released.
“Bri can make her own decisions. I’m not going to have someone telling me, like, I have to be quiet,” said Portnoy. “I don’t even know anything.”
Dave Portnoy and Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia’s friendship has grown a lot over the years. Portnoy, 47, founded Barstool Sports in 2003, but LaPaglia, 25, didn’t join the team until later. He started with the podcast network in 2020 as a student. The organization contacted him through social media after his videos […]
Richards noted that it was a “crazy strategy” for Bryan’s team to think that “poking the bear” (meaning Portnoy) would work for them. Portnoy eventually reached out to Bryan’s attorney directly.
“Hey, this is Dave Portnoy, I don’t know who you think you’re dealing with. I’ve been good so far,” Portnoy read on his phone. “Pay Bri ASAP or I’m going for Zach’s throat. Bri will have no say in it, Josh will have no say. I can pay for Bri myself. I tried to get out of it but I stopped – all in caps – f-ing around. Pay him or shut the if— I’m getting impatient.”
After he sent that message, Portnoy allegedly took a turn for the worse.
“They tried to turn around and say I was cheating on Zach,” she said. “It’s like, ‘That’s a crime.’ Tell someone – it’s crazy – you guys are trying to silence Bri. You are giving him an NDA for all this money.”
At one point, LaPaglia was going to sign the paperwork but ultimately decided not to.
“I’m not leaving my experience and what I went through to protect someone who hurt me and I’m stronger than a weak man and f— your money, f— you,” she said.