Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, has broken his silence about the disturbing increase in antisemitic abuse he has faced across the United States, following a particularly vile incident that occurred in Mississippi just days ago.
Confronting Hate in Starkville
A pizza review in Starkville, Mississippi, was violently interrupted over the weekend when a passerby shouted 'Hey f*** the Jews, f*** you Dave' at Portnoy. The shocking exchange was captured on camera during the filming of one of his famous pizza reviews ahead of the college football game between Mississippi State and Georgia.
The footage shows Portnoy's visible shock at the abuse, while bystanders immediately rallied to condemn the heckler. 'Why don't you come in the camera, buddy?' Portnoy challenged, as the crowd turned on the perpetrator. One woman was heard declaring 'that was awful,' while a man shouted 'F*** you, get out of here' at the abuser.
A Disturbing Pattern of Abuse
This Mississippi incident represents the latest in a series of antisemitic attacks targeting the media personality. In June, while filming outside Terrazza in Toronto, a passerby yelled 'f*** the Jews' from a car. Portnoy expressed fury when some in the crowd laughed at the remark, sharply telling them, 'What are you guys f***ing laughing about?'
Perhaps the most organised incident occurred earlier this year at a Barstool Sports branded bar in Philadelphia, where a bottle service worker was filmed holding a sign that read 'F*** the Jews'. Portnoy responded decisively, firing two waitresses and identifying Temple University student Mo Khan as allegedly responsible for ordering the sign.
Khan, who was subsequently suspended from university and lost his job and internship, released a video claiming to be the victim of a 'lynching' and describing the hateful message as 'just an edgy joke'. Portnoy branded him 'the face of hatred' and 'a f***ing anti-Semitic piece of s***'.
Speaking Out Against Rising Hatred
In a preview of his upcoming interview with Tony Dokoupil for 'CBS Sunday Morning', Portnoy revealed the alarming frequency of these attacks. 'I've seen in my own experience, just being Barstool, the difference between the hate I get - I mean, occasionally you get, 'Hey k**e' or 'Jew' or whatever. It's every day now,' Portnoy states in the clip. 'Like, there's a definitive shift in what's going on.'
The 48-year-old entrepreneur, who is Jewish, feels compelled to use his platform to confront this bigotry. 'For me, being a Jewish person, like, you got to step up,' he explains. 'You're kind of someone people look up to in the Jewish community. You have to be like, 'Alright, this is not normal ha-ha with the guys.' People are coming up with real hate.'
The full interview, filmed before the Mississippi incident, is scheduled for release next week and has already generated significant discussion on social media following the release of preview clips.
