Zach Bryan is letting it burn, burn, burn.
It appears that the well-known country music artist may have intensified his conflict with his former girlfriend, Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia, and her associate Dave Portnoy, by burning a Barstool Sports flag in a video posted on his Instagram Story on August 4th.
In my post, as the pennant emblazoned with “Saturdays Are for the Boys” and our company’s logo burst into flames, I swiftly swung a golf club at the blaze without any added commentary. However, the choice of music that accompanied the post spoke volumes on its own.
In simpler terms, Tyler Childers sings in his 2025 song “Bitin’ List” that he doesn’t care for you at all. If there were ever a situation where he contracted rabies, you would be at the top of his list to bite. Zach posted this song along with the music video.
Nine months later, Brianna made a passionate post, claiming Zach had unexpectedly ended their relationship and emotionally abused her during their one-year term. The popular podcast host from Barstool Sports received support from his colleagues, including Dave (the founder) who collaborated with Josh Richards on a diss track titled “Smallest Man.
In a song, Dave crooned, “Little scrawny Zach, oh so tattered tattoos / unattractive as can be, there’s no remedy for that,” and added, “Country music starlet, give him a treat / another tantrum tossed, it’s bedtime.
He added, “‘Your vibe is reminiscent of Morgan Wallen,’ you seem to have borrowed quite a bit from Tyler Childers. However, your attempt at being tough falls short, not quite hitting the mark.
Zach hasn’t spoken up about Brianna’s accusations or the diss track, but he did criticize those who attack and mock his close friends during the breakup commotion as armchair critics.
He shared on his Instagram Stories in January, “My friends are in a terrible state and it’s disheartening, but I don’t seek your pity. I cherish my life, which I’ve labored diligently to attain. Whether you admire me or not, whether you think I’m great or not, please stop scrutinizing my friends unnecessarily on the internet.
The artist behind the song “Something in the Orange” stated, “Crossing boundaries of those I cherish is a limit I won’t tolerate, and this is my breaking point. I’ve spoken my mind, and we stand tall with our chins up.
For a complete timeline on Zach and Brianna’s messy split, read on.
Rumors were swirling that things might not be going well in Zach Bryan and Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia’s relationship, as fans noticed a decrease in shared posts between the two on social media. Many commenters openly expressed their suspicions about the couple’s status.
Last week was quite a rollercoaster, to be honest. On the October 2nd episode of Barstool Sports’ BFFs podcast, Dave Portnoy and Josh Richards grilled me about the breakup speculations. Truth be told, we both took some time off social media for a while, which sparked quite the frenzy online. However, my partner is dealing with some heavy personal issues right now, and I decided to take a breather at home. But rest assured, we’re back together now, and everything’s smoothed over between us.
As a diehard fan, I found myself on Dave’s radar after a lighthearted jibe about Taylor Swift (which I later apologized for). Yet, the founder of Barstool Sports, self-declared “King of the Swifties,” graciously overlooked my slip-up because I was dating his beloved Brianna.
Prior to the public revelation of Brianna and Zach’s breakup, she cautioned against getting involved with celebrities in an interview on Hailey Welch’s Talk Tuah podcast.
During a recent episode of our podcast, BFFs, which was released on October 22, 2024, I made a statement that I would never date anyone famous,” Brianna clarified. “I’ve always avoided such a scenario and surprisingly enough, it seems to have happened nonetheless.
Brianna acknowledged that she had switched her stance, but added, “I wish I hadn’t dated famous individuals.
Reflecting on our conversation, I find myself inclined to agree that dating a well-known figure can be quite overwhelming. The attention and intrusion into one’s personal life may be too much to handle.
On October 21, 2024, Brianna posted a picture on Instagram of a personal, heartfelt note she had written by hand, expressing deep emotions.
Ultimately, you’ll discover that life carries on, regardless of your desires: Time marches forward and the world moves ahead while you wish for it to stand still,” the message conveyed. “You may feel resentment towards life for persisting when you are rooted in place. You might even blame others for your immobility. But one day, you’ll awaken to find that life continues, not because it is cruel, but because you have the potential to move as well. The world will keep spinning, offering you glimpses of hope that you too can advance.
All was revealed the next day.
Approximately one hour after Zach posted his Instagram story on October 22, 2024, Brianna responded with another: “I’ve been caught off guard, folks,” she penned. “For the time being, I plan to take a break from social media in an effort to heal personally. When I feel ready to share again, I will return.
She said, “I adore each of you immensely, thank you for your thoughtful messages. Don’t forget that you are deeply cherished, and things will continue to turn out just fine.
Prior to initiating her personal healing process, Brianna shared in a YouTube video dated October 22, 2024, that she had been crying continuously for around five days when she found out about Zach’s post and the events that followed. She recorded this video from what she called her “comfortable” bathroom floor.
She exclaimed, “I had no clue that post was getting published,” she said. “Neither a message nor a call came from him. I simply awoke to a flurry of text messages asking if I was alright. My first thought was, ‘Has something happened to my father?’
Restating her shock, she went on to ask, “How is it possible to pour your entire being into another person, only to be cast aside in just a few short days? It’s truly devastating.
Brianna mentioned that she hasn’t been prepared yet to discuss the matter, but she will. She shared that they ended their relationship the day before, explaining why she didn’t feel comfortable making any public statements just yet. Instead, she wanted to deal with it personally, treating it as a human issue first.
All she wanted at the moment, she said, was to “just be hurt for a week and lay in bed.”
After she publicly discussed their split, Dave posted a link to Taylor Swift’s song “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived” on YouTube, dedicating it to Brianna.
Initially, that was captured by a friend who uploaded it on Brianna’s Instagram Story as a representation of her, on October 24th. The friend added the caption “(Brianna away from social media but she agreed to this) she’ll return on Wednesday with friends. Currently, she is spending time with friends and family. I have been saving some of your thoughtful messages and sending them to her. She appreciates you.
As an ardent admirer, I’d like to address the buzz about any alleged disagreement between the extraordinary duo of the PlanBri Uncut podcast, specifically focusing on the rumors surrounding Grace O’Malley and Brianna. Contrary to speculation, Brianna took to Instagram Stories on October 30 to clear the air regarding this matter.
This paraphrase maintains the original intent while using a more conversational tone from a fan’s perspective.
Brianna expressed, “I’m going to stop letting the internet interfere with my real-life connections from now on. It’s time for me to establish limits and maintain some privacy in my life.
In another message, she expressed, “I’ve decided to keep my personal relationships offline from now on as the internet seems eager to destroy them all. Grace, who has been more like a sister to me since my teenage years (when I was 15), I wished her a happy birthday privately.
In December 2025, Grace revealed that she was departing from Barstool, following a significant rift between herself and Brianna.
December 2025 saw Grace’s announcement of her resignation from Barstool, due to the escalated disagreement with Brianna.
Best friends Dave and Josh discovered an innovative means to vent their frustrations, producing a diss track titled “The Smallest Man.
The song uploaded to YouTube in November 2024 starts with, “I urged you to trust me, it turned out you were deceitful,” as the lyrics go. “Tinder, Bumble, Raya, I saw right through your dishonesty / You’re a contemptible character, creating a new adversary / Before long, you’ll require some resuscitation.
At first, the track was prevented from appearing due to copyright issues raised by Warner Music Group. Later on the same day, it reappeared.
In a recent post on X, Dave pointed out their short-term predicament: “The crisis management team at Zach Bryan and Warner Music seems to be among the least effective in the world. They’re rushing around frantically trying to delete ‘smallestman’ from the internet as if they don’t understand I operate an online company. It appears nobody informed them of this basic fact, but by their actions, they’ve ensured that this issue will reach #1.
On November 5th, Josh and I shared a sneak peek of the track on Instagram, but when someone questioned our courage for not mentioning Zach, I stepped in and clarified, “We’re all blocked.
Following what appeared like ignoring all conversations originating from Brianna, Zach opted for November 7, 2024, as the date to unveil his track “High Road,” and also shared some news about it.
A while ago, he paid a visit to his mother’s grave for the first time in over a year, and shared this experience on Instagram. He mentioned that he was currently in Tulsa at the time.
He explained that he had decided to stop touring due to his acceptance into a master’s program in Paris for the following year. He also shared with her about returning to Oklahoma, memories of his friends in New York, nights filled with moonlit howls, shared laughter, the bond they’ve built over five years as a band, the callouses on his fingers, every tear shed, his achievement in The Rolling Stone magazine, and most importantly, relaxing on the porch swing with his lovely sister.
I shared, ‘I penned the chorus for this track about a month or two ago and only recently completed it when I recognized the abundance of blessings in my life. It seemed fitting to share it with everyone. Thank you for listening to ‘This Worlds a Giant’ last night, and thank you to all those who stand by me; your unwavering support has been instrumental in carrying me through tough times. It appears that these Quiet Dreams have become too burdensome, but I’ve found my way home now, and I will hold you close as we navigate through the pain together.’
Brianna has alleged that her relationship with Zach was emotionally abusive.
On the November 7th, 2024 episode of BFFs, she shared with Dave and Josh that the past year has been the most challenging of her life. She is still grappling with the emotional trauma inflicted by an abusive individual.
The 25-year-old said her brain had been “rewired” from being afraid to make her ex mad.
Brianna went on, “He convinced me it was all my blame, he cut me off from every aspect of my life. He never allowed me to be the person I wished to become. He made me despise everything I once cherished about myself.
Zach had “love bombed her,” she said, and she ignored multiple red flags.
Following nearly uninterrupted tranquility for about four months, she expressed that he systematically eroded her confidence until she felt as if he was the only one remaining in her life. He persistently wore her down, causing repeated emotional harm to her.
In the same show, Brianna claimed that Zach’s group proposed a deal worth $12 million for her to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement, thereby keeping quiet about their romantic involvement.
Brianna stated that she wasn’t refusing the money because it reminded her of her ex, but also added that she wasn’t accepting it so they could reveal their secrets openly.
Instead, Brianna expressed, “I won’t hand over my life stories and the hardships I faced to shield someone who caused me harm.
TopMob News reached out to Zach for comment but has not heard back.
Following their recording, Dave penned down on X, “Now that we’ve seen tonight’s episode, I believe it’s impossible for anyone not to hold Bri in deep esteem after witnessing her strength.
Reflecting on my recent decision, I penned down on my Instagram story on November 7, 2024, that I felt it was indeed the correct path I’d chosen. In hindsight, holding back a bit and not disclosing everything seemed like the wisest move as well. My post leaves no room for doubt – you can see clearly what I mean.
She went on to say, “Your messages have left me in tears. It’s shocking to see so many people, both men and women, who have endured the same kind of mistreatment. I promise to be an advocate for you all, always. If you can find the courage to challenge someone powerful, surely you can stand up to a bully from your hometown. It’s only been two weeks since everything happened, so I’m still trying to make sense of it all. I’ll continue to work through my feelings and heal with you all! I love you, I love you, I love you.” (In this version, the original message has been rephrased to sound more conversational and easier to read.)
A short while later, she posted a video taken by an attendee at one of Barstool’s Chicks in the Office: Little Fall Getaway Tour shows, during which she sang “Smallest Man,” emphasizing the line, “What fortune for Bri, now liberated from ZB.
Brianna denied that Dave offered her $10 million to spill her guts on the BFFs pod for…clicks?
On TikTok on November 9, 2024, she stated that Dave didn’t provide me with any money. She implied that her statement might be considered a tell-all, but in fact, she chose the higher ground. Instead of revealing details, she created an atmosphere and depicted a scene vividly. If you can’t perceive this clear image, I don’t have the patience to guide you step by step to LensCrafters.
Furthermore, she explained, “I’m currently
Pointing to the tattoo on her arm, a lyric from Zach’s song “28,” she asserted emphatically, “That was my personal choice, that was my tattoo. Now that we have matching ones, it’s fine, I won’t be getting it removed.
Zach remained silent about Brianna’s accusations of emotional abuse, and she speculated on the reason behind his silence. (He did share content that seemed unrelated, though it might have been subconsciously influenced. Additionally, he temporarily disabled commenting on his posts.)
On the November 13, 2024 episode of BFFs, she stated, “It seems clear to me that he won’t reply because, if he does, he must refute it. So, in that case, I’ll share all the videos and recordings.
In my opinion, the lack of reply speaks volumes, and it further illuminates his personality once more.
Brianna explained further that she might’ve accidentally spilled more tea immediately, but gave Zach the chance to confess if he wanted to.
She asserted, “I don’t think individuals are beyond hope.” This statement served as her last plea for assistance, aiming to make him understand the impact of his actions on others and encouraging him to seek help.
Dave has heard enough.
During a recent episode of The Unnamed Show on November 14, 2024, the 47-year-old expressed his decision to depart from BFFs at year’s end. He stated, “I have no passion for the subjects they present. They hand me topics without any prior study, and I’m essentially criticizing teenagers I don’t personally know. It’s not something I truly enjoy doing.
Although he openly shows his delight during confrontations, his conversations with Brianna and Josh continue to be lively and spirited at present.
He mentioned that Josh and Bri will carry on with it. It’s been very successful, but I feel it’s now time for me to explore something new. I believe I’ve reached the end of what I can accomplish with it.
In a subtle manner, Brianna confided that she declined an offer from her famous admirer as she was already committed to someone else who had proposed marriage, despite his ongoing infidelity towards her at the same time.
Did you know that my celebrity crush recently made an attempt to reach out? This was shared in a TikTok video posted on November 15, 2024, where I lip-synched to Cardi B’s “Be Careful.” However, I had to turn down the offer as I already had a boyfriend at the time. Unfortunately, it turned out that he was unfaithful, which is why I had to laugh it off.
Brianna commented, “I’ve discovered that he was unfaithful all along, laughing to myself. The very week he gave me the engagement ring, he was messaging other women, aren’t I just laughing!”
In her comments, Brianna wrote, “Turns out he was cheating on me the whole time, chuckling. He presented me with an engagement ring in the same week that he was exchanging messages with other women, isn’t it ironic?
Occasionally, what you long for is a breathtaking New York City sunrise, along with some great company. That’s what Brianna expressed as she posted a TikTok video on November 17, 2024, featuring herself and her friends (including one of the Australian guys she mentioned earlier) enjoying the sunrise in Brooklyn, accompanied by Taylor’s “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” tune.
In another TikTok on November 17, 2024, she shared, “Yesterday, I was out with an Australian guy, and I finally got approved for the NYC apartment! We celebrated afterwards – it was a blast. We visited Central Park, had some drinks, and then more friends joined us.
Upon a kind bystander remarking, “That was swift,” I retorted, “Indeed, for I had been deceived throughout my entire relationship, hence the speed.
In her November 18th video, Brianna jokingly commented, “Do you all believe I’ll find another boyfriend anytime soon?” This was in reaction to an article suggesting a new romantic relationship. However, she clarified, “I’m deeply engaged in intense therapeutic work right now.
Speaking further about the Australian lad, she remarked, “In my previous video, I mentioned that I was spending time with a fellow who’s returning to Australia, which means we won’t cross paths again. Isn’t it okay for me to enjoy myself a bit? Isn’t it permissible for me to share a brief kiss?
And for now, Brianna—fresh from lightening her locks—is turning the tables.
She pondered on TikTok in November 2024, saying, “For the first time ever, both in my lifetime and my adult years, I find myself single. And let me tell you, it’s fantastic! As a woman in male-dominated fields, I’ve been able to capture people’s hearts only to disappear later.
On the 9th of January, 2025, Zach expressed on his Instagram Story that some online individuals were verbally assaulting and disparaging his friends by labeling them as ‘armchair fighters.’
He went on to say, ‘I’m not seeking pity, but the situation with my friends is really disappointing and unfair.’ He added, ‘I value and appreciate my life greatly, which I’ve worked extremely hard for. Regardless of your opinions about me or my worthiness, please stop scrutinizing and judging my friends so harshly on the internet.’
Although the artist known as “Something in the Orange” didn’t directly respond to Briana’s claims about their relationship, he did express that he remains unfazed by the false rumors circulating about him on the internet, stating he is “so unruffled by the bogus nonsense people post about me online.
Zach expressed, “For the people I cherish and value, this is my boundary and ultimate limit [from criticism]. I’ve spoken my mind fully. Proudly standing tall, so do my convictions.
In her interview with Sports Illustrated on January 15, 2025, Brianna expressed that she’s rediscovering a sense of vitality within herself, now that the individual who seemed to constantly cast a shadow over her has moved away.
A few months down the line, she revealed that several women had been expressing interest in her – a situation not experienced before in her past. While this wasn’t something she had considered before (“I guess I really am fully a lesbian,” she joked on her podcast in January, “so maybe that’s why none of my relationships with men didn’t work out”), it was an idea worth exploring for the future.
In March, I shared with Elite Daily that I’ve been feeling like an outsider, as if I’ve entered the dating scene rather late. To be honest, it’s quite overwhelming for me, especially since many people in New York City seem to have extensive experience in this area, having dated women for a long time already.
Yet, she acknowledged that her healing journey is ongoing, as she reflected, “It’s just been four months since I started therapy. There are still challenging days, and I am still grappling with PTSD. Therefore, I can’t predict exactly how long my recovery process might last.
It appeared that the tension between Zach and Brianna seemed to have been resolved, but then the popular country music artist sparked more controversy by posting a video on Instagram Story where he appeared to burn a Barstool Sports flag on August 4, 2025.
The clip featured the song “Bitin’ List” by Tyler Childers, where he sings, “In simple terms, I dislike you, not a single aspect of you.
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2025-08-05 02:18