Dave Portnoy, the founder and president of Barstool Sports, recently addressed a disturbing situation involving an anti-Semitic sign at one of his company’s branded bars in Philadelphia. He expressed his outrage on the social media platform X.
In a video titled ‘Emergency Press Conference’ posted on Sunday, Portnoy reacted to reports that a light-up sign reading ‘F*** the Jews’ was displayed at the Barstool bar, which was spotted by his followers.
The Massachusetts native says he has been tracking down those responsible and promised to ‘come for throats’ over the despicable display.
Portnoy, who is Jewish, explained that he was preparing to attend an event over the weekend when he was flooded with notifications about the incident at the Barstool Sansom Street location in Philadelphia’s Center City.
‘Usually a great bar. You know, bottle service, people buy drinks, you get a sign. There was a sign yesterday that said, “F*** the Jews”,’ Portnoy said.
‘I’ve been shaking. I’ve been so mad for the last two hours. Like I instantly got on, this is why the Emergency Press Conference is late, because I was so over the top.’
Portnoy then said, ‘I’m gonna f***ing make it my life f***ing mission to ruin these people. Like, I’m coming for your throat. I’m never ending.’
He explained that he’d spent the hours prior to making the video tracking down as much information as possible on the situation.
‘You think I’m gonna put up with this s**t at my bar?,’ Portnoy explained.
The 48-year-old Portnoy said he was ‘hunting down’ the waitresses that served the table and those at the table themselves, ‘Because I want f***ing consequences for f***ing actions.’
Portnoy said that both of the waitresses responsible for holding up the sign have been fired and called one of them ‘one of the dumbest f***ing humans I’ve ever talked to in my life.’
Video of the sign was posted onto an Instagram story of an account that appears to have been deleted.
That story tagged a now-private account. Portnoy says he spoke to the person behind the tagged account and revealed that they weren’t at the bar that evening.
‘I had this kid basically in tears, turning state witness to me, rolling on the people who there,’ he said.
Portnoy says he contacted the person who posted the video before the account was deleted. The Barstool founder claims is a student at Temple University. DailyMail.com has reached out to the school for comment.
He says the person behind the video began crying and telling Portnoy that he isn’t anti-Semitic.
‘I don’t buy it for a second,’ Portnoy said. ‘Who the f*** would do that sign in my f***in bar? You think I’m just gonna sit here? I’m gonna make it my mission to put you in lights.’
He continued: ‘Tell me how do I make this right before I go ape-s**t. You want to take anti-Semitism classes? You want to do whatever? You make it feel right. I don’t need your tears… Trust me, they’re pulling the footage.
‘I’m 20 steps ahead and I’m using everything. I am going to come for your f***ing throat unless you give me answers.’
Portnoy concluded the rant: ‘What I’m saying is: I’m getting the names, I’m trying to be a little responsible, I’m trying to keep it together, but I’m on it. I’m f***ing on it.’
A number of Portnoy’s Barstool employees expressed sympathy and support for their boss on social media.
Barstool college football creator Kayce Smith posted, ‘This is absolutely sickening. My heart hurts for my Jewish friends and family knowing how much hate they face daily.’
‘horrifically hateful by these people who did it and those who allowed it. No place in the world for this. Horrific,’ posted Barstool gambling content creator Rico Bosco.
Last month, Portnoy was seen ringside at UFC 314 in Miami waving an Israeli flag in a pointed statement against one of the fighters, Bryce Mitchell.
Mitchell had gone viral earlier in the year after making various anti-Semitic statements on a podcast – including statements denying the Holocaust.
He was soundly defeated by his Brazilian opponent, Jean Silva, and Portnoy took a victory lap on social media.
‘Always fun to see a Hitler lover get his a** whooped,’ Portnoy posted on X.
