Dave Portnoy Announces Exit from “BFFs” Podcast Amid Brianna LaPaglia’s Messy Split with Zach Bryan

Dave Portnoy is officially stepping away from the BFFs podcast, the hit show he co-created with Josh Richards.

The Barstool Sports founder broke the news during a guest appearance on the Unnamed Show podcast on Thursday, revealing that he’s leaving because “the subjects don’t interest me at all.” His departure follows co-host Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia’s headline-making breakup with country singer Zach Bryan, adding even more drama to an already intense situation.

“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,” Portnoy admitted. “I don’t love necessarily doing that. It’s a little different.” Despite this, Portnoy reassured fans that the podcast will continue to thrive without him. “Josh and Bri will continue it. It’s super successful,” he said. “But, yeah, it’s time for me to try the next thing. I had run my course with it.”

The BFFs podcast was launched in 2020 with Portnoy and TikTok star Josh Richards, and Brianna LaPaglia joined as a co-host in 2021, quickly becoming a core part of the team. LaPaglia addressed Portnoy’s departure on Thursday’s episode, acknowledging that the show would be “definitely going to be a new pod” without his presence.

Portnoy hinted at his exit earlier this month, saying, “Just because I’m getting older, like nearing 50. 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, his plans to bow out smoothly were interrupted when LaPaglia’s split from Zach Bryan took the podcast by storm.

In the explosive November 7 episode, LaPaglia detailed her tumultuous relationship with the I Remember Everything singer, accusing him of abuse and revealing that he offered her $12 million to stay silent about their breakup.

“I thought that’s how this was ending,” Portnoy commented. “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.’”

Portnoy didn’t hold back when voicing his opinion on Bryan, even dropping some not-so-subtle diss tracks. “I will write 10,000 diss tracks,” he declared in defense of LaPaglia, calling Bryan “Country Diddy” and “the Smallest Man.” He added, “I’ll put the headsets on. I’ll come back spitting bars twice as hot.”

An exact date for Portnoy’s final appearance on BFFs hasn’t been set, but he confirmed that he will continue to co-host until the end of the year.