Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · August 7, 2025 · Entertainment

Dave Portnoy Calls Out Zach Bryan: 'Psychopath' Accusations and a Spooky New Flame

Rumored new girlfriend Samantha Leonard

Zach Bryan's Love Life in Shambles: Barstool Founder Dave Portnoy Slams Country Singer as a "Psychopath"

The drama-filled world of country music has just gotten even juicier! Zach Bryan, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, is at the center of a scandal that's got everyone talking. His rumored new girlfriend, Samantha Leonard, bears an uncanny resemblance to his ex-girlfriend Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia, and Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, isn't having it.

On the latest episode of Barstool's popular podcast, "The Unnamed Show," Portnoy blasted Bryan as a "psychopath" for allegedly creating a lookalike clone of his ex. The shocking comparison was made when an image of Leonard and LaPaglia side by side appeared on screen, leaving co-hosts Kirk Minihane and Ryan Whitney speechless.

Bryan's rumored new girlfriend Samantha Leonard

"How is that even possible?" Portnoy asked, incredulous. "This guy is an absolute psychopath. He went and built a Briana 2.0 in the lab. This is insane." The image of Leonard and LaPaglia was a stark reminder of Bryan's tumultuous relationship with his ex-girlfriend.

For those who may have missed it, Bryan and LaPaglia had a very public breakup last year after dating for over a year. The two met at the Academy of Country Music Awards in May 2023, made their red-carpet debut together at the 2024 Grammys, but things took a turn for the worse when Bryan announced they had parted ways in October.

In his statement, Bryan claimed he had struggled with personal issues and felt it would be best to go their separate ways. However, LaPaglia revealed that she was blindsided by the break-up and accused Bryan of narcissistic emotional abuse throughout their relationship.

Portnoy pointed it out on the latest episode of Barstool podcast 'The Unnamed Show'

But what's even more shocking is that LaPaglia has hinted at taking things a step further – filing a restraining order against Bryan after he was caught on camera burning a Barstool Sports flag. Portnoy, who jumped to LaPaglia's defense last year with his scathing diss song "Country Diddy," is now joining forces with her in this latest drama.

Bryan's actions have sparked outrage, and it seems like the country music community is rallying around LaPaglia. The singer-songwriter has been accused of being a "scumbag" and "piece of s*" by Portnoy on his podcast appearances, but now he's taking aim at Bryan's alleged behavior with Leonard.

So, what's really going on in Zach Bryan's love life? Is he trying to recreate his ex-girlfriend or is this all just a publicity stunt gone wrong? One thing's for sure – the drama-filled world of country music has never been more captivating!

Zach and Brianna, pictured at the Grammys in 2024, had a high profile split last year

Update: Zach Bryan took to social media earlier this week where he filmed himself setting fire to the Barstool emblem on his lawn. The video, which was accompanied by Tyler Childers' song "Bitin' List," contains lyrics that seem to be directed at Portnoy and Barstool Sports.

LaPaglia responded to the drama by sharing a screenshot of an internet search in which she had Googled "how do I file a restraining order." Portnoy, never one to miss an opportunity for a dig, reposted the video on his Instagram page with the caption: "Oh no. How are we gonna recover?"

The country music world is watching with bated breath as this drama unfolds. Will Bryan's alleged behavior with Leonard be enough to tarnish his reputation forever? Only time will tell!

Bryan filmed himself setting fire to a Barstool flag on his lawn before hitting it with a golf club

He filmed himself burning a 'Saturdays are for the Boys' flag, a reference to Barstool Sports

Shortly after the bizarre move, Brianna shared a screenshot of her search about how to file a restraining order