Dave Portnoy, the outspoken founder of Barstool Sports, has revealed his dramatic political shift away from the Democratic Party, claiming they made young white males feel like 'the bad guys' during last year's presidential election campaign.
Political Awakening and Democratic Disillusionment
During a revealing interview with CBS Sunday Morning's Tony Dokoupil, Portnoy explained his changing political stance and the reasoning behind his support for Donald Trump in the previous election. The media personality, who grew up in a liberal Jewish household near Boston, provided his perspective on why many young men turned away from Democrats.
'People often think I have the answer,' Portnoy stated. 'My nutshell [answer] is, generally they were very anti-normal guys.' When pressed by Dokoupil to define what he meant by 'normal guys,' Portnoy elaborated that Democrats had created an environment where traditional male interests became stigmatised.
He argued that the party suggested it was problematic for young men to enjoy typical pursuits like appreciating attractive women, drinking socially, and participating in fraternity party culture. More significantly, Portnoy claimed that white males specifically were positioned as antagonists in political discourse.
Confronting Rising Antisemitic Abuse
The interview also addressed the disturbing antisemitic harassment Portnoy now faces regularly. He revealed experiencing such abuse on a daily basis and emphasised his responsibility to speak out against growing religious prejudice.
Just last week, while filming one of his famous pizza reviews in Starkville, Mississippi, Portnoy was targeted by a heckler who shouted 'F*** the Jews' at him. The incident, captured on video and widely shared across social media platforms, resulted in the arrest of 20-year-old student Patrick McClintock.
'It's every day now,' Portnoy said about the escalating antisemitism. 'There's a definitive shift in what's going on. For me, being a Jewish person you got to step up. You're kind of someone people look up to in the Jewish community. You have to be like, alright, this is not normal.'
Pattern of Prejudice and Political Consequences
Unfortunately, the Mississippi incident represents just one in a series of recent antisemitic attacks targeting Portnoy. In June, while reviewing pizza outside Terrazza in Toronto, another individual yelled the same hateful phrase from a passing vehicle. Portnoy expressed particular frustration when members of the gathered crowd laughed at the abuse.
Another disturbing episode occurred at the Barstool Sports bar in Philadelphia, where a bottle service worker was filmed holding a sign reading 'F*** the Jews'. Portnoy responded decisively, firing two waitresses and identifying Temple University student Mo Khan as allegedly responsible for commissioning the offensive sign.
Reflecting on his political transformation, Portnoy explained that despite previously voting for Democratic candidates, he felt compelled to support Republican nominee Donald Trump due to what he described as the 'pure arrogance' of Kamala Harris's campaign. His comments highlight ongoing debates about political realignment and cultural divisions affecting voting patterns among different demographic groups.
