Brianna LaPaglia Says Ex Zach Bryan’s Relationship Is a “Dig” at Her

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Zach Bryan came lookin’ for a girl just like Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia.

I’ve been following this whole situation closely, and it seems Brianna, who used to be super close friends with the singer, has finally spoken out about her ex getting married to Samantha Leonard. It’s been over a month since the wedding, and she’s now sharing what she thinks about the whole thing.

She told Logan Paul and Mike Majlak on their Impaulsive podcast that his entire wedding felt like a jab at her, and it was very obvious.

“I’m not saying married,” the 26-year-old clarified. “But I’m telling you, dating her was to get at me.”

Brianna also noticed that she and Samantha looked somewhat alike, and it reminded her of Zach, whom she’d dated from July 2023 to October 2024.

Honestly, what always struck me about them is that they were completely unique. They really broke the mold – there wasn’t anyone else quite like them before, and they weren’t afraid to just be themselves. It was so refreshing to see.

TopMob News has reached out to Zach’s reps for comment and has not yet heard back.

Zach hasn’t publicly addressed Brianna’s recent statements, and he’s been largely silent since their breakup. Following their split – which Brianna said came as a surprise – Zach asked people online to respect the privacy of those close to him.

Since her breakup with the country singer, Brianna’s been happier, particularly in her romantic life.

I’ve started dating women, and honestly, it’s a little intimidating. I think women are generally more emotionally aware, which means relationships with them could be a lot more intense than what I’m used to with men.

The influencer admitted coming out as bisexual in college was scary, but she happily shared that she loves the idea of marrying a woman.

Brianna has been busy making new friends, while Zach is adjusting to life as a married man. He and Samantha had a small, private wedding in Spain on New Year’s Eve, and afterward, he shared a heartfelt message remembering his mother, Annette Bryan.

He shared on Instagram on January 21st that everyone he cares about would have loved the event. He mentioned there was plenty of champagne, and that Mac looked great. He also appreciated Samantha’s family, saying they were kind and accepting of him as he is.

Let me tell you, growing up, my dad was a total character. I’ll never forget one New Year’s, he was doing the splits – yes, the splits! – right on the dance floor, cigar in hand. The atmosphere was incredible, everyone was just beaming. I mean, picture this: huge smiles under the Spanish moon, and the party went on until late into the morning. It was pure joy and a memory I treasure.

Although Zach misses Annette, he mentioned that Samantha often reminds him of his strong connection to his mother. Zach was previously married to Rose Madden from 2020 to 2021.

He said she was truly special and someone to cherish. Once she’s in your life, he explained, you want to hold onto her. Being with her makes him feel happy and at peace, like a weight has been lifted and life is easier to handle.

Keep reading for a look back at Zach and Brianna’s relationship…

Rumors began circulating online that Zach Bryan and Brianna LaPaglia (known as “Chickenfry”) might have split up, after fans noticed they were posting fewer pictures together. People quickly shared their guesses and concerns in the comments.

Brianna addressed breakup rumors on the October 2, 2024, episode of the BFFs podcast with Dave Portnoy and Josh Richards, admitting, “It was a rough week.” She explained that a lack of social media posts about them sparked the rumors, but clarified that they are now back together and doing well. She added that her partner was dealing with personal issues and she had gone home for a while, leading to the temporary separation.

Zach had already gotten on Dave’s bad side by joking about Taylor Swift (though he did apologize). However, Dave, who runs Barstool Sports and jokingly calls himself the biggest Taylor Swift fan, let it slide because Zach was dating Brianna.

Before news of Brianna and Zach’s breakup became public, Brianna shared advice against dating celebrities in an interview on Haliey Welch’s Talk Tuah podcast.

You know, on a recent podcast, BFFs, I was chatting about dating, and I firmly stated I’d never date anyone famous. It was a strong ‘no’ from me! But life has a funny way of surprising you, and well… let’s just say things didn’t exactly go as planned. It kind of just… happened. And that’s what I shared on the October 22nd episode, which, ironically, came out the same day news of my breakup became public.

She wasn’t sure why she’d changed her mind, she confessed. But Brianna added, “I just wish… don’t date celebrities.”

She added that, in her opinion, it’s better for your mental health to avoid dating someone famous, explaining it can be very difficult.

On October 21, 2024, Brianna posted a photo on Instagram of a handwritten note that expressed some very strong emotions.

Eventually, you’ll realize that life continues, even when you wish it wouldn’t. Time will pass and the world will keep moving, even as you long for it to pause. You might feel like life is unfair for carrying on while you feel stuck, and you may even blame people or moments for holding you back. But then, one day, you’ll wake up and understand that life isn’t cruel – you are the one who’s stuck. The world keeps turning, hoping to show you that you can move forward too.

All was revealed the next day.

Just under an hour after Zach posted on Instagram on October 22, 2024, Brianna responded with a post of her own. She wrote that she was shocked and hurt, and needed to take a break from social media to heal. She said she would return and share her thoughts when she was ready.

She expressed her deep gratitude and affection, thanking everyone for their supportive messages. She reassured them that they are loved and that things will eventually be alright.

In a YouTube video posted on October 22, 2024, Brianna explained that she’d been crying non-stop for five days when she saw Zach’s post and the reaction to it. She recorded the video from her bathroom floor, describing it as a place where she felt some comfort.

She said she was completely surprised to see the post appear. He hadn’t contacted her at all – no texts, no calls. She woke up to a flood of messages asking if she was alright, which initially made her fear something terrible had happened to her father.

She repeated that she was completely shocked and hurt, saying, “How can you pour your heart and soul into someone, only to be thrown away so quickly? It’s incredibly painful.”

Brianna said she wasn’t ready to discuss what happened right away, but she would eventually. She explained that they had broken up the day before, and she needed time to process it privately. She wanted to deal with the situation as a person, not as a public figure.

All she wanted at the moment, she said, was to “just be hurt for a week and lay in bed.”

After Brianna publicly discussed their split, Dave posted a link to Taylor Swift’s song “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived” on YouTube, seemingly dedicating it to her.

Someone took a screenshot of that and a friend posted it to Brianna’s Instagram Story on October 24th, with a message saying Brianna asked them to share it. The message said she’s taking a break from social media but will be back on Wednesday to connect with close friends. She’s currently spending time with loved ones, and her friend has been sharing supportive messages with her – she really appreciates everyone’s kindness.

Brianna addressed rumors of a falling out with her PlanBri Uncut podcast co-host, Grace O’Malley, after some noticed she hadn’t publicly acknowledged Grace’s birthday. She used an Instagram Story on October 30th to clarify the situation.

Brianna decided she needed to prioritize her real-life relationships over online interactions. She’s planning to establish personal boundaries and maintain some privacy.

She recently shared that she’s decided to keep her personal life off the internet, explaining that online negativity often harms relationships. She specifically mentioned that she celebrated her close friend Grace’s birthday privately, as they’ve been like sisters since she was fifteen.

In December 2025, Grace announced her departure from Barstool, following a significant falling out with Brianna.

BFFs hosts Dave and Josh found a creative outlet for their frustrations, releasing a diss track they called “Smallest Man.”

A song uploaded to YouTube in November 2024 opened with the lines, ‘I said trust me, caught your pants on fire.’ It went on to accuse someone of dishonesty and bad behavior, referencing dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Raya, and predicting they’d soon face consequences and need to redeem themselves.

The song was briefly taken down due to copyright claims by Warner Music Group, but it was put back online the same day.

Dave commented on X about the issues surrounding Zach Bryan’s music being removed from streaming services. He criticized Warner Music’s handling of the situation, saying their response was chaotic and ineffective. He pointed out his own expertise in online media and predicted the controversy would actually increase attention to the song, driving it to the top of the charts.

He and Josh hinted at the new track on Instagram on November 5th. When someone commented that they were avoiding tagging Zach, Brianna jumped into the conversation, stating they had all blocked him.

Honestly, it was SO frustrating! He was totally ignoring everything anyone was saying about Brianna, but then, out of nowhere, Zach just announced November 7th, 2024, as the release date for “High Road” and gave us a little update. It was like he was doing it on his own terms, completely oblivious to the drama! I’ve been counting down the seconds ever since, of course.

He shared on Instagram that he recently visited his mother’s grave in Tulsa – it was his first time there in over a year.

I explained to her that I was stopping touring because I’d been accepted into a master’s program in Paris next year. I also told her I was back in Oklahoma, reminisced about my close friends in New York and all the fun we’d had together, and shared memories of the laughter and experiences my band and I have shared over the past five years—the hard work, the emotional moments, and even getting featured in Rolling Stone. But most importantly, I told her about the simple joy of spending time with my sister, swinging on the porch.

I wrote the chorus for this song a month or so ago, and finished it when I started to appreciate everything I have. It felt like the right time to share it with you all. Thank you for listening to ‘This World’s a Giant’ last night, and thank you to everyone who supports me and has been there for me through tough times. It feels like my past struggles, those ‘Quiet Dreams,’ became too much to bear, but I’m in a good place now and I want to be there for you through any pain you’re going through.

Brianna has alleged that her relationship with Zach was emotionally abusive.

She shared with Dave and Josh on the November 7th, 2024 episode of BFFs that the past year had been the most difficult of her life, explaining she was still frightened by the abuse she experienced.

The 25-year-old said her brain had been “rewired” from being afraid to make her ex mad.

Brianna explained that he convinced her she was to blame for everything. He cut her off from her friends and family, and wouldn’t allow her to express herself. Ultimately, he eroded her self-esteem and made her dislike the things she once loved about herself.

Zach had “love bombed her,” she said, and she ignored multiple red flags.

After a few months of things going well, he began to emotionally abuse her, making her feel completely dependent on him and constantly putting her down.

During the show, Brianna claimed Zach’s team tried to buy her silence about their relationship, offering her $12 million in exchange for signing a non-disclosure agreement.

Brianna explained that although she didn’t want money connected to her former partner, her refusal wasn’t simply about avoiding revealing private information about their relationship.

Brianna explained that she wouldn’t allow her experiences to be used to shield someone who had harmed her, stating, “I’m not giving up my story to protect them.”

TopMob News reached out to Zach for comment but has not heard back.

Following the recording, Dave posted on X, saying that while people may have differing opinions about Bri, her performance on tonight’s episode definitely earned her respect.

After the episode aired on November 7, 2024, Brianna shared on Instagram that she felt good about her choices. She explained that holding back some details was also the right move, implying viewers understood why.

She shared that the messages she received had deeply moved her, even making her cry. She was shocked to learn how many others had similar experiences with abuse, and vowed to use her voice to support them. She encouraged others to find their own strength, saying that if she could confront someone powerful, they could confront their own abuser, no matter who they were. She explained she was still trying to come to terms with everything that had happened in the past two weeks, and would continue to heal alongside everyone else. She ended with a heartfelt expression of love and support.

A few hours later, she posted a video taken by someone in the audience at a Barstool Chicks in the Office event. The video, from a live performance of the song “Smallest Man,” focused on the line, “How lucky is Bri to be free of ZB.”

Brianna denied that Dave offered her $10 million to spill her guts on the BFFs pod for…clicks?

In a TikTok posted on November 9, 2024, she claimed Dave hadn’t paid her anything. She dismissed the idea that she’d revealed much, saying she’d acted with grace. Instead, she explained, she’d carefully crafted a situation to make her point, and if people didn’t understand that, she wasn’t going to explain it further. She ended with a slightly sarcastic apology.

She added that she’s currently losing money due to the costs of storage, movers, and frequent flights to New York as she searches for an apartment.

She pointed to the tattoo on her arm that read “How lucky are we”—a lyric from Zach’s song “28”—and emphasized, “I got that tattoo first. It was my idea. Now that we both have it, that’s fine. I’m not getting it removed.”

Zach hadn’t publicly addressed Brianna’s claims of emotional abuse, and she believed she knew the reason. He had been posting on social media, but about different topics – though some of it seemed vaguely connected to the situation. He also temporarily disabled comments on his posts.

She believes he’s staying silent because responding would force him to admit something, and she’s prepared to share videos and recordings if he does. She said this on the November 13, 2024, episode of the BFFs podcast.

She added that the silence spoke volumes. She believed his lack of response revealed his true character once more.

Brianna added that she could have revealed more information immediately, but she wanted to give Zach a chance to be honest himself.

She said she never gives up on people. She explained that her final attempt to reach him was to make him understand the impact of his actions and encourage him to seek help.

Dave has heard enough.

The 47-year-old announced his departure from BFFs at the end of the year during the November 14, 2024 episode of The Unnamed Show. He explained that he wasn’t interested in the show’s topics, which were presented to him without any prior research on his part. He felt uncomfortable criticizing the 18-year-olds featured on the program, as he didn’t know them personally and didn’t enjoy that aspect of the show.

He definitely lets you know when he’s having fun criticizing someone, and his conversations with Brianna and Josh are still lively and energetic.

He explained that Josh and Bri would be taking over, as the project was doing very well, but he felt it was time for him to move on to something new. He believed he had accomplished all he could with it.

Brianna revealed she rejected a romantic advance from someone she admired because she was already in a relationship with a man who proposed to her while also being unfaithful. She didn’t mention any names.

She revealed on TikTok, in a post from November 15, 2024, that a celebrity she has a crush on messaged her a few months prior. She explained she turned him down because she was already in a relationship, and her boyfriend was actually cheating on her at the time. She shared the story while lip-syncing to Cardi B’s song “Be Careful.”

Brianna revealed in a comment that she discovered her fiancé had been cheating on her throughout their relationship. She hilariously pointed out that he was even messaging other girls while he was proposing to her with the engagement ring.

Brianna shared a TikTok on November 17, 2024, showing herself with friends – including someone she’d mentioned as being from Australia – watching the sunrise in Brooklyn. She captioned the video, set to Taylor Swift’s “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,” with, “Sometimes all you need is a NYC sunrise and some good pals.”

I finally got approved for an apartment after weeks of searching in New York City,” she shared in a TikTok video on November 17, 2024. “I celebrated with a friend from Australia – we had fun at Central Park and grabbed drinks. Later, we met up with other friends, too.

When someone commented that she responded quickly, Brianna explained that she had just found out her partner was unfaithful and was still reeling from the betrayal.

Responding to rumors about a new relationship, Brianna jokingly asked in a video posted on November 18th, “Do you guys really think I’m going to have a boyfriend again?” She quickly added, “I’m in therapy, and it’s intense.”

She explained that she’d previously mentioned in a video she was spending time with someone who was returning to Australia, and she didn’t expect to see him again. She then asked if she wasn’t allowed to enjoy life and have a little romance.

And for now, Brianna—fresh from lightening her locks—is turning the tables.

She shared on TikTok on November 22, 2024, that she’s experiencing being single for the first time as an adult and absolutely loves it. She playfully added that she’s enjoying making connections with people, then intentionally ending things – a strategy she suggests other women in male-dominated fields might enjoy as well.

On January 9, 2025, Zach used his Instagram Story to complain about people online who were being mean to his friends.

I’m not looking for pity, but attacking my friends is just wrong and disturbing. I’ve worked incredibly hard for the life I have, and I enjoy it, regardless of what anyone thinks of me. Please stop harassing my friends online.

The singer of “Something in the Orange” didn’t respond to claims made by Briana regarding their relationship, but he did state he’s unbothered by false rumors circulating online.

Zach responded to his critics by stating that attacking his loved ones is where he draws the line. He feels he’s made his point and remains proud and unbowed, saying, ‘I’ve said what I needed to say. My chest is still out and heads are still held high.’

Brianna recently told Sports Illustrated that she’s starting to feel like herself again now that a difficult person is no longer in her life. The interview was published on January 15, 2025.

A few months later, she mentioned that women were starting to ask her on dates. She joked on her podcast in January that this might mean she’s actually a lesbian, explaining that her past relationships with men hadn’t worked out for a reason. While it wasn’t something she’d considered before, she was open to the possibility for the future.

Brianna admitted to feeling a bit behind the curve and nervous, telling Elite Daily, “I’m 25 and this will be my first date with a woman? It feels strange because it seems like everyone in New York has already been there and done that.”

She was still in therapy and reminded herself that it had only been four months. She still had difficult days and was still dealing with PTSD, so she wasn’t sure how much longer the process would take.

As a huge Zach fan, I thought things were finally calming down with the whole Brianna situation. But then I saw this video he posted on Instagram Stories on August 4th, 2025… he actually burned a Barstool Sports flag! Honestly, it felt like he was intentionally stirring up more drama, and it’s got everyone talking again.

The video featured the song “Bitin’ List” by Tyler Childers, where he sings a blunt message: “To put it plainly, I just don’t like you – not a single thing about you.”

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2026-02-18 20:20