Dave Portnoy has issued a scathing attack on Kim Kardashian after Taylor Swift revisited their feud in her TIME Person of the Year interview. “Kim Kardashian edited the phone call to make it seem like Taylor Swift’s a liar. You f–king lying snake. This is f–king jail time, you big booty woman. Kim Kardashian should be thrown in prison. I just hate f–king injustice and scumbags and f–king dishonest treacherous leaches,” the Barstool founder said.
It comes after it was alleged that Kardashian “never apologized” for her role in the feud that stemmed from Kanye West’s controversial reference to Swift on “Famous”. Sources who spoke to TMZ claimed that Swift had never received an apology for editing a phone call between West and Swift to make it seem like Swift had signed off on the lyrics regarding her. However, the same sources said that Swift would be open to an apology from Kardashian.
However, this is not the first time Portnoy, an avid Swiftie, has been particularly aggressive toward Kardashian. “If I were Taylor, I would have security waiting at the entrance and I would throw handcuffs on her and drag her to jail. It would surprise me if she didn’t [attend]. That would be a very Kim move,” Portnoy told Page Six about Kardashian potentially attending Swift’s Eras Tour with her children.
Elsewhere, Portnoy also went after Kardashian after she reshared a birthday message on Instagram that used “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)”. “I’ve never seen anybody try to suck up like she is to Taylor Swift. You’re dead to us. Stop playing around, stop playing her music, stop having your kids listen to the music, or if you want them to listen, don’t put it [on] your Story. We all remember what you did with Kanye when you edited the footage and tried to make Taylor seem like a crazy liar. Taylor when into hiding for basically a year because of these scumbags, so stop. We don’t want any part of you,” Portnoy said on his BFFs podcast.
Dave Portnoy’s beef with the owner of Dragon Pizza in Somerville, Massachusetts has gone viral. Portnoy visited the shop in the latest episode of his show, One Bite Pizza. While reviewing the pizza shop, Portnoy was interrupted by the owner, who confronted the media mogul. “Enjoy your pizza as any customer but I don’t appreciate what you do. Coming in and judging a business with one bite,” the owner yelled at Portnoy. Ever the mature human being, Portnoy had Barstool publish an article that called the man “one of the worst humans in history”.
Portnoy, the founder and owner of Barstool Sports, may have a legion of fans online. However, he is much less loved in the real world. In 2013, Portnoy tried to run for Mayor but failed to get enough signatures to appear on the ballot. Furthermore, many Massachusetts residents aren’t fond of him. MassTok has been full of videos of people hailing the pizza shop owner as a hero for standing up to Portnoy. Of course, Barstool‘s loyal army of trolls was also present to attack the man who said some mildly mean things to “El Presidente”.
Portnoy, seemed very upset about being told that his show sucks. “Like even my most ardent haters have to begrudgingly admit that I’ve done more for small business than 99.9 of private citizens in this country. It just shows how little this guy actually knows about me that he couldn’t name 1 actual reason he really hated me besides The New York Times. And that is why this guy is everything that is wrong with America right now,” Portnoy wrote in his op-ed. All this from an “alpha male destroyer of wokeness”. One who was formally reprimanded for union-busting at his media outlet in 2020.
There are of course, far bigger problems in America right now than a guy standing up to Dave Portnoy. However, that’s not how Dave Portnoy sees it. Portnoy, who as recently as last year was facing multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, decided that this was the hill he must die on. The pizza shop owner also posted to Instagram at the time of Portnoy’s visit. “F@$K you and the Stool you came in on, Dave Douchebag. Your show sucks. You suck, and you truly are the classless tool I thought you are.”
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy — famously known as El Presidente, aka The Mogul, aka Davey Pageviews — is one of the most recognizable faces in the American sports media industry. Famously known as the founder of the multi-million dollar online media outlet Barstool Sports, he’s also a stock trader, who often appears on Fox News’ business segments, and a pizza enthusiast. Over the course of Barstool’s 20-year existence, he accumulated a massive following on his Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter pages. However, Portnoy’s controversial takes have turned him into a polarizing presence online and in the sports world.
Portnoy’s Upbringing
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 15: Barstool Sports founder David Portnoy attends Game Seven of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on May 15, 2022, in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
Portnoy was born in Swampscott, Massachusetts, on March 22, 1977. He attended Swampscott High School, where he met ESPN’s football analyst Todd McShay. He later enrolled at the University of Michigan where he graduated with a degree in education in 1999.
While at Michigan, he launched thegamblingman.com, a website where he shared his sports betting picks. David moved to Boston and began his post-college career at IT market research firm, Yankee Group. He spent four years working for the company before eventually leaving the company to focus on starting his own Barstool Sports.
Portnoy’s personal life has been a topic of interest among his fans, with many curious about his relationship status and hobbies. He married his ex-wife Renee Satterthwaite, known as the “First Lady of Barstool Nation” among fans, in 2009. However, their marriage ended in 2017 after Portnoy’s affair with a woman named Jordyn Hamilton became public. As expected, Portnoy’s also an avid sports enthusiast, particularly of the New England Patriots and Boston Bruins. According to Celebrity Net Worth, David Portnoy’s net worth is estimated to be between $100 – $120 million.
In 2003, Portnoy founded Barstool Sports, a four-page sports newspaper he distributed by hand on Boston’s subway platforms and street corners. The paper was initially written solely by Portnoy but eventually expanded to include freelance writers, including former classmate Todd McShay.
The newspaper initially struggled but gained popularity in 2004. Portnoy began featuring photos of women in bikinis on the front page. In 2007, Barstool transitioned into a blog, where he cultivated his persona as “El Presidente,” a blunt and candid character that appealed to young men and became a mainstay of bro culture.
The blog quickly gained a following for its humorous takes on sports and pop culture and expanded to cover the latest news. Over the years, under Dave Portnoy’s guidance, Barstool Sports transformed into a multimedia company that includes podcasts, video content, and merchandise.
Despite facing criticism for disparaging and offensive comments towards women and other marginalized groups, Barstool Sports grew in popularity. They attracted investment from The Chernin Group, which purchased a majority stake in 2016. Four years later, Penn Entertainment acquired a 36% stake in the company, bringing Barstool’s valuation to $450 million. In February 2023, Penn Entertainment acquired the remaining stake in Barstool Sports for $388 million, with Portnoy retaining creative control over the content.
Portnoy’s love of pizza became a significant part of his public persona. He started reviewing pizza places in 2007 on his blog and social media channels, leading to the launch of his YouTube channel, One Bite With Davey Pageviews. The page featured Portnoy’s reviews of different pizza places across Manhatten, and eventually, globally. His pizza reviews are known for their honest and straightforward approach. It often features Portnoy taking large bites out of the pizza while giving his thoughts on the taste and texture. Eventually, this led to several partnerships with renowned pizza companies, including DiGiorno. In 2021, Portnoy also launched his frozen pizza brand, One Bite Pizza.
Controversies
I’d agree with you that if Clark did exactly what Reese did and I went after Reese and not Clark then it would be fair to suggest it’s rooted in race. However they didn’t do remotely the same thing and if you can’t see that then race is clouding your perspective not mine https://t.co/vypfHx9bbQ
Dave Portnoy has been embroiled in many controversies since Barstool Sports’ inception in 2003. Portnoy caught backlash after making light of sexual assault victims, saying, “If you’re a size 6 and you’re wearing skinny jeans, you kind of deserve to be raped, right?” He later issued an apology for this comment. Portnoy’s decision to post a naked photo of Tom Brady’s 20-month-old son in 2011 resulted in a visit from Massachusetts State Police. He eventually pulled the photo from his blog.
In 2016, Barstool Sports faced accusations of racism after publishing a post that mocked Colin Kaepernick. Portnoy defended the post, stating that it was meant to be a joke and that the company did not condone racism. However, the incident led to several advertisers pulling their support from the site.
Additionally, Portnoy has faced backlash for Barstool’s use of derogatory language and the alleged treatment of female employees. He was criticized in the past for making inappropriate comments toward women and accused of promoting sexual harassment, which he denied. ESPN’s Sam Ponder, for example, called him out for a string of statements he made toward her, including suggesting that she needed to be more “slutty.” Ultimately, the controversies surrounding Portnoy have led many publications and news outlets to describe Barstool as a place that fosters misogynistic culture.
Despite the controversies, Portnoy and Barstool Sports have used their platform to support various charitable causes over the years. One notable example is the Barstool Fund, which Portnoy launched in December 2020 to support small businesses struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund initially started with $500,000 of Portnoy’s money and quickly gained momentum.
The Barstool Fund received widespread praise for its transparency and direct approach to providing financial assistance to small businesses. As of April 2023, the fund has raised nearly $42 million. Portnoy has been actively involved in the fund’s efforts, regularly sharing updates and encouraging donations on his social media channels.
In addition to the Barstool Fund, Barstool Sports have also supported other charitable causes, including the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Portnoy has also used his platform to raise awareness and funds for various social issues, such as a Veteran’s Day fundraising campaign for mental health.
After Portnoy made a reported $100 million from selling his sports media company, Barstool Sports. Since then, he has continued to grow his wealth. Portnoy has made substantial investments in real estate over the years, is an avid stock trader, and dabbles in cryptocurrencies, too. Near the end of 2022, Portnoy launched a watch company, Brick Watch Company. That same year, he filed a lawsuit against news publisher Insider for publishing two stories alleging sexual misconduct against Portnoy. He dropped the lawsuit in February 2023.
