Dave Portnoy offers a closer look at Zack Bryan and Brianna “Chickenfree” LaPaglia’s relationship before their shocking split.
During an appearance on Thursday’s episode of “The Name Show” podcast, the Barstool Sports founder reluctantly recalled two encounters that made him a “Zack Bryan hater.”
Portnoy claimed the first case occurred moments before Bryan, 28, took to the stage at The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan Hotel to kick off the 2024 Super Bowl festivities in Las Vegas.
“[Me and Josh Richards] They were at the Super Bowl and Zack Bryan was performing. We were going to […] “Meet Bri, go, I text her and she won’t respond,” the 47-year-old businessman said.
Despite their plans, Portnoy claimed 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 party after Brian saw a clip from their podcast where they joked about having a “revolving door of boyfriends” six months ago.
Portnoy claimed that the podcast discussion caused the former couple’s “first big fight.”
“I didn’t have any great feelings,” he added. “I think being banned from a concert because of a prank is pretty crazy.”
The second instance allegedly occurred after LaPaglia, 25, attended the Golden Globe Awards in January 2024 without Bryan.
LaPaglia was interviewed on the red carpet and asked if “there was anyone,” Portnoy recalls. [she’s] Excited to meet.” She responded, but according to Portnoy, it didn’t go down well with Brian.
“He was a famous, cool celebrity and she was like, ‘Oh, he’s good looking, he looks nice,'” Portnoy said of LaPaglia’s answer.
Portnoy went on to call Brian an “insecure kid,” claiming that the country singer “unfollowed Brie on social media” and “blocked close friends.” [podcast account]“After meeting her on the red carpet.
He continued, “She was on the red carpet for an interview, so he looked like an immature, insecure kid.” “And just like when I was around, he was nice to us […] But outside. His reactions were fair – he was very nice.
Earlier in the podcast, Portnoy told hosts Kirk Minihan and Ryan Whitney that he was “never in love with Brian.”
“I think he’s a fraud. Every time I met him, I was uncomfortable with him,” he noted, before adding that Brian “never gave him a good feeling.”
When asked if he had told an online influencer about his feelings, he said: “I think Brie 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, Brian spoke about having had a “very difficult year personally” and suffered “through some very difficult things.”
“I thought it would be beneficial for both of us to go our separate ways. I’m not perfect and I never will be,” he continued.
“For everything I am and for anyone I let down, I’m sorry. I try my best at everything. I let down the people who love me, and mostly myself.”
LaPaglia then took to her Instagram Story to say she was “really devastated” by her previous post and needed to “get off social media for a while and try to heal in private.”
During an appearance on the podcast, Portnoy explained that LaPaglia and Bryan had already split — but claimed that his co-host was amazed at how quickly the singer announced it on social media.
“Zach and Brie were crazy about each other, but their relationship was always rocky,” a source exclusively told Page Six after their split. “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.
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