Dave Portnoy is pulling again the curtain on one of many largest podcast breakups in current reminiscence.
In his newly launched memoir, the founding father of the Barstool Sports activities web site revisits the dramatic collapse of “Name Her Daddy,” claiming the break up concerned secret conferences, explosive contract calls for, and allegations he says might have destroyed his firm.
Years after the blockbuster fallout between Alex Cooper, Sofia Franklyn, and Barstool, Portnoy is now sharing his model of occasions in placing element.
In response to Dave Portnoy, the partnership between Barstool Sports activities and “Name Her Daddy” appeared secure till Alex Cooper and Sofia Franklyn traveled to Los Angeles to seem on Logan Paul’s podcast in April 2019.
The social media character claimed there had been no indicators of unhappiness earlier than that journey, writing per the Daily Mail, “There was no indication that Alex and Sofia have been sad with their state of affairs, till they met Logan Paul.”
He alleged that conversations with Paul about their contracts and compensation planted doubts that grew over the next months.
Portnoy wrote that the hosts progressively distanced themselves from Barstool, first by staying away from the workplace, and ultimately by hiring a lawyer to renegotiate their contracts.
He described the assembly as a turning level, claiming their calls for included $1 million yearly for every host, possession of the “Name Her Daddy” mental property, management over promoting gross sales, 90 p.c of merchandise income, and worker reclassification.
Portnoy mentioned the requests have been so excessive that he couldn’t even end the assembly. He additionally alleged that former HBO govt Peter Nelson, who was courting Franklyn on the time, performed a major function within the negotiations.
Franklyn has beforehand denied these claims, saying hypothesis surrounding Nelson’s involvement was false and that he was not closely concerned.
Portnoy Claims Podcast Went Silent Throughout Contract Standoff
As negotiations intensified, Dave Portnoy alleged that the hosts stopped releasing new episodes to stress Barstool into accepting their calls for.
He mentioned the manufacturing freeze raised the potential of authorized motion for breach of contract, setting off more and more tense negotiations between the 2 sides.
Portnoy recalled arranging a personal assembly with the hosts on the rooftop of his condominium constructing, the place he introduced what he described as “probably the most beneficiant supply in Barstool historical past.”
In response to him, the proposal would have made each Cooper and Franklyn immediate millionaires whereas permitting them to proceed constructing the profitable podcast.
Regardless of the supply, Portnoy mentioned the dispute remained unresolved. The standoff finally turned probably the most public contract battles in podcasting, ultimately resulting in the top of the unique “Name Her Daddy” partnership and Franklyn’s departure from the present.
Dave Portnoy Says Alex Cooper Secretly Met With Him Alone
One of many largest revelations in Portnoy’s memoir facilities on a personal assembly he claims befell between himself and Cooper with out Franklyn current.
In response to the 49-year-old, Cooper requested for one more rooftop assembly after reviewing his revised supply.
He recalled the 31-year-old telling him, “I really like the deal you proposed, and I wish to take it. However Sofia isn’t going to take it.”
Portnoy mentioned he reminded Cooper that Barstool would pursue authorized motion if the podcast moved elsewhere earlier than the contract expired.
He then made his most explosive allegation, claiming Cooper revealed that she and Franklyn had mentioned accusing Barstool of sexual harassment to flee their contractual obligations.
Portnoy wrote that the alleged technique would have been used if Barstool refused to give up possession of the podcast.
He acknowledged the seriousness of the accusation, writing, “I understand that this can be a heavy accusation I simply made: how Name Her Daddy was allegedly planning to interrupt their contract with us by mendacity about sexual harassment at Barstool.”
Portnoy Says Public Opinion Would Have Been Towards Him
Reflecting on that alleged dialog, Dave Portnoy argued that Barstool would have confronted an uphill battle if sexual harassment accusations had grow to be public.
He famous that Barstool had lengthy been criticized for controversial humor however mentioned the corporate had by no means beforehand confronted allegations of inappropriate office conduct.
Portnoy wrote that even when he believed the accusations have been false, “No person would have believed my aspect of the story.”
He recommended public notion alone might have inflicted lasting injury on each him and the corporate, whatever the consequence of any authorized dispute.
The businessman described the second as probably the most vital crises he had ever confronted whereas operating the corporate.
Dave Portnoy Fires Again At Sofia Franklyn Forward Of Her Personal Memoir
Portnoy additionally addressed reviews that Franklyn is making ready to launch her personal ebook, acknowledging that he has no concept what her model of occasions will embody.
Whereas leaving open the chance that components of her story might be correct, he didn’t conceal his opinion.
“Hear, I don’t know what she’ll write in her ebook,” Portnoy wrote earlier than including, “In my ebook, Sofia Franklyn is a f*cking liar.”
He additionally argued that some readers might robotically aspect with Franklyn for a wide range of private causes, however insisted his account displays what he believes occurred behind the scenes.
Portnoy concluded by criticizing those that view Franklyn as a feminist determine, writing that he believes anybody supporting her ought to bear in mind his allegation that she was keen to falsely weaponize claims of sexual harassment.
