Barstool founder Dave Portnoy vows to ‘die in booth’ after Zach Bryan diss track removed

On By Littum

Dave Portnoy has made it clear he has no plans to stop making music after his diss track about Zach Bryan was removed.

The founder of Barstool Sports released his song “Smallest Man” with podcast co-host Josh Richards on Tuesday (November 5). The tune – which has since been deleted from YouTube and Spotify – included digs at Bryan, who announced his split from Portnoy’s podcast co-host and friend, Brianna Chickenfry, last month.

Portnoy shared a video on social media Wednesday to address “another twist in the saga of the smallest man’s diss track.”

“‘Smallest Man’, again taken down from YouTube,” he said, before quoting the song’s lyrics, in which he claimed: “How lucky Bri is to be free of ZB and his STDs.”

The internet personality said he initially thought the song’s “outro” caused a copyright issue, given that it kept getting removed from streaming platforms. However, Portnoy learned that in 2020 Richards “signed a music deal” with Warner Music Group, so the company “owns (his friend) a **.”

Portnoy took a dig at Bryan, who is also repped by Warner Music Group, calling the singer a “little man” who was “thin-skinned.” While the song continues to be removed, he explained that he will not stop working on his music.

Dave Portnoy vows to go back to the recording booth after Zach Bryan diss track is taken down

Dave Portnoy vows to go back to the recording booth after Zach Bryan diss track is taken down (X/Getty Images)

“I want to write 10,000 diss tracks,” Portnoy said. “I’m going to die in the booths. I’ll put the headset on. I’ll come back and spit twice as hot. Maybe we’ll do Dave’s version. Oh, I heard Bri might want to go in the booth with me and do her version. We’ll find out of this. It may take 24 hours.”

He then criticized Warner Music Group, claiming that if the company “worries about” his song, the “worse it gets”.

“You’re in the mud, you pissed me off,” Portnoy said. “I’ll have to get into the cabin. I thought it would be one-and-done. I don’t care. I’ll keep spitting.”

Portnoy ended his video by noting that he was about to appear in the news to discuss the 2024 presidential election after Donald Trump beat Vice President Kamala Harris. “Getting back in the booth to talk about the Electoral College,” he concluded. “I’ll see you in the booth in the next 24 hours.”

In the music video for “Smallest Man”, which has been shared on TikTokPortnoy and Richards are dressed as police officers when they stop a man driving a pickup truck. The lyrics contain several references to Chickenfry and Bryan’s relationship, including how they met on the exclusive online dating app, Raya.

“I said trust me, caught your pants on fire / Tinder, Bumble, Raya, knew you a liar,” the song began. “You’re a bitch, you just made a new rival / Soon you’ll need a revival.”

The lyrics called Bryan by his initials “ZB” and claimed he was “f***ed up”. Portnoy and Richards also referenced Bryan’s earlier tweet about his preference for Taylor Swift over Kanye West, for which he later apologized.

“I mean you should have known the first signs / Who chooses Kanye over Taylor?” the lyrics continued.

The independent has reached out to a representative for Warner Music Group and Bryan for comment.

Zach Bryan and Brianna Chickenfry at the 2024 Grammy Awards

Zach Bryan and Brianna Chickenfry at the 2024 Grammy Awards (Getty Images for The Recording A)

Last month, Portnoy shared her initial reaction to Bryan’s breakup from Chickenfry, whose real name is Brianna LaPaglia. In response to the breakup news, he posted a link to Swift’s hit breakup song, “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived,” from her 2024 album, The Ward of Tortured Poets. “Dedicating this to @BChikenfry,” he wrote.

On October 22, Bryan revealed on his Instagram Story that he and Chickenfry had split after more than a year of dating. “To address something: Brianna and I have broken up with each other (sic) and I respect and love her with all my heart,” his statement began. “She has loved me unconditionally for a very long time and for that I will always thank her.”

He continued: “I’ve personally had an incredibly tough year and struggled through some pretty difficult things. I thought it would be beneficial for both of us to go out in different ways.”

Chickenfry then released his own statement on his Instagram story, writing: “Hey guys, I’m feeling really blind right now. I’m going to get off social media for a while and try to heal in private, when I’m ready I’ll be back and ready to talk.”

She later posted a video on her YouTube channeland explained that they ended the relationship a day before Bryan posted his Instagram statement.

“I just woke up to Zach posting on his Instagram that we broke up and I had no idea that post was going to go up,” she said through tears. “He didn’t text me, he didn’t call me.”

She added: “How can you give someone everything and love them so unconditionally through things that you shouldn’t. How can you give every ounce of yourself to someone and then be discarded in a few days? It’s really, really heartbreaking. “