Dave Portnoy is providing a closer look into Zach Bryan and Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia’s relationship before their shocking split.
During his appearance on Thursday’s episode of “The Unnamed Show” podcast, the Barstool Sports founder reluctantly recalled two encounters that made him a “Zach Bryan hater.”
Portnoy claimed the first instance happened moments before Bryan, 28, was set to take the stage at The Chelsea in The Cosmopolitan hotel to kick off 2024 Super Bowl festivities in Las Vegas.
“[Me and Josh Richards] were at the Super Bowl and Zach Bryan is performing. We were going to […] meet Bri, go, and I’m texting her and she’s not getting back to me,” the 47-year-old businessman shared.
Despite their plans, Portnoy alleged that LaPaglia, 25, called him and said, “I don’t know how to say this, I have bad news. Zach has banned you from going to the concert.”
LaPaglia’s “BFFs” co-hosts were not allowed to attend the concert after Bryan saw a clip from their podcast where they joked about her having a “revolving door of boyfriends” six months prior.
Portnoy claimed the podcast discussion caused “the first big fight” between the now-former couple.
“I never had great vibes,” he added. “I think banning me from a concert over a joke is pretty f–king insane.”
The second instance allegedly happened after LaPaglia, 25, attended the Golden Globes in January 2024 without Bryan.
Portnoy recalled LaPaglia being interviewed on the red carpet and being asked if there was “anybody [she’s] excited to meet.” She responded, but according to Portnoy, it didn’t go over well with Bryan.
“It was some famous, awesome-looking celebrity and she was like, ‘Oh, he’s good looking, he looks nice,’” Portnoy said of LaPaglia’s answer.
Portnoy went on to call Bryan an “insecure baby,” claiming the country crooner “unfollowed Bri on social” and “blocked BFFs [podcast account]” following her red carpet interview.
“She’s on the red carpet being interviewed, so he just seemed like a really immature, not confident baby,” he continued. “And like when I’ve been around, he was nice to us […] but off. His vibes were just — he was so over the top nice.”
Earlier in the podcast, Portnoy told hosts Kirk Minihane and Ryan Whitney that he was “never a liker” of Bryan.
“I think he’s a fraud. Every time I met him, I wasn’t comfortable with him,” he pointed out, before adding that Bryan “never gave” him a good “vibe.”
When asked if he had ever told the internet influencer about his feelings, he said, “I think Bri knew I didn’t like him.”
Portnoy’s stories come just days after the “Something in the Orange” singer confirmed via his Instagram Stories that he and LaPaglia had called it quits.
In his statement, Bryan talked about having “an incredibly hard year personally” and struggling “through some pretty severe things.”
“I thought it would be beneficial for both of us to go our different ways. I am not perfect and never will be,” he continued.
“With everything I am and to anyone I let down, I am sorry. I try my best in everything. I failed people that love me and mostly myself.”
LaPaglia then took to her own Instagram Story to say that she was “feeling really blindsided” by her now-ex’s post and needed to “hop off social media for a while and attempt to heal privately.”
Want more celebrity and pop culture news?
Start your day with Page Six Daily.
Thanks for signing up!
During his podcast appearance, Portnoy clarified that LaPaglia and Bryan had already broken up — but claimed his co-host was blindsided over how quickly the singer announced it on social media.
A source exclusively told Page Six after their split, “Zach and Bri were crazy about each other, but their relationship was always rocky. His lifestyle is not conducive to a serious relationship.”
The former couple started dating in July 2023. However, earlier this year, a woman named Brooke Almond publicly accused Bryan of cheating on the influencer with her.
)
English (US) ·