Dave Portnoy exits ‘BFFs’ podcast after Brianna Chickenfry and Zach Bryan breakup drama

Dave Portnoy announced his official exit from the “BFFs” podcast amid ongoing drama stemming from co-host Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia’s breakup from Zach Bryan.

The Barstool Sports founder revealed the news during his guest appearance on Thursday’s episode of the “Unnamed Show” podcast, telling listeners he’s walking away as “the subjects don’t interest me at all.”

“They show me the topics when I go in there. I haven’t done any research, and I’m just ripping apart 18-year-olds, who I don’t even know,” explained Portnoy. “I don’t love necessarily doing that. It’s a little different.”

Dave Portnoy announced his official exit from the “BFFs” podcast amid ongoing drama stemming from co-host Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia’s breakup from Zach Bryan. Youtube/ BFFs Podcast Portnoy made the announcement during his guest appearance on “The Unnamed Show” podcast, saying the topics “don’t interest” him. Youtube/ BFFs Podcast

Portnoy went on to say that the “BFFs” podcast “certainly accomplished what I wanted to accomplish” since they originally started it.

“Josh and Bri will continue it. It’s super successful,” he clarified. “But, yeah, it’s time for me to try the next thing. I had run my course with it.”

Portnoy and Josh Richards launched the popular podcast in 2020. LaPaglia joined their team as an additional co-host in 2021.

LaPaglia also addressed Portnoy’s departure during Thursday’s episode of “BFFs,” saying the show was “definitely going to be a new pod” without the founder’s influence.

“They show me the topics when I go in there. I haven’t done any research, and I’m just ripping apart 18-year-olds, who I don’t even know,” said Portnoy. Getty Images Portnoy launched the podcast in 2020 with Josh Richards, with LaPaglia joining the team in 2021. bffspod/Instagram

Portnoy previously teased his exit earlier this month, informing everyone that his “plan” was to “be done with ‘BFFs’” by the end of the year.

“Just because I’m getting older, like nearing 50,” Portnoy, 47, said at the time. “Talking about teenage drama, a little out of my wheelhouse. So, we’ve known this for months, and we’re like, ‘What’s the best way to announce it?’”

However, those plans were soon derailed when news of LaPaglia and Bryan’s split was announced.

Portnoy teased his exit from the show previously, but said LaPaglia and Bryan’s split “complicated” his plans. briannalapaglia/Instagram In the bombshell Nov. 7 episode, LaPaglia accused the country singer of abuse and alleged he offered her $12 million in exchange for her silence. Getty Images

On the bombshell episode, which dropped Nov. 7, LaPaglia opened up about her relationship with the country singer. She accused him of abuse and alleged he offered to pay her $12 million in exchange for her silence on their split.

“I thought that’s how this was ending,” Portnoy said at the time.

“I thought I was gonna get on and be like, ‘Hey, I respect their decision. We’re not gonna talk about the Zach thing, but I can’t be on it anymore because I have to talk about it if we’re gonna do it.’ And I woke up the next morning, and it’s like, ‘F–k the money, we’re going.’”

“I thought I was gonna get on and be like, ‘Hey, I respect their decision. We’re not gonna talk about the Zach thing, but I can’t be on it anymore because I have to talk about it if we’re gonna do it.’” he said. Getty Images for The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund Portnoy’s final episode date has yet to be revealed but he’s promised to stay on the podcast through the rest of the year.

Portnoy has since proceeded to voice his feelings about the “I Remember Everything” singer, calling him “Country Diddy” and the “Smallest Man” on a couple diss tracks.

“I will write 10,000 diss tracks,” Portnoy promised, showing his support for his friend and co-host amid her “hard” breakup from the singer. “I’ll put the headsets on. I’ll come back spitting bars twice as hot.”

An exact date for Portnoy’s final episode of “BFFs” has yet to be revealed. However, he said he plans to stay on and co-host the podcast through the end of the year.