Barstool Sports chief Dave Portnoy is earning high praise for his reaction to the two young men who brought an antisemitic sign to his Philadelphia bar.
Portnoy was infuriated last weekend when video surfaced of one of his waitresses and two customers were seen holding up a sign that read “Fuck the Jews.” And when he first learned of the outrageous incident, he vowed to “ruin” the people involved with the sign, Page Six reported.
“I’ve been shaking. I’ve been so fucking mad for the last two hours,” he said in his first video on the matter. “… I’m going to make it my life’s fucking mission to ruin these people. I’m coming for your throat. I’m never ending.”
“You think I’m going to put up with this shit at my bar?” he asked. “I want consequences for fucking actions. So, I’m not just sitting back … no, trust me. I have been on it,” he added.
Emergency Press Conference - There was a “Fuck the Jews” sign at our Philly bar last night. I am shaking I’m so mad pic.twitter.com/DRlQc9woiA
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) May 4, 2025
After he investigated, he fired the two waitresses involved in the incident, at least one of whom he called a “total idiot.” He also identified two young men who were customers at the bar.
However, instead of “ruining lives,” Portnoy soon posted a follow-up video in which he decided to take a more educational approach, and his more sensible response has earned high praise.
“I talked to both the culprits who I know are super involved in it, talked to the families. I’m sending these kids to Auschwitz. They’ve agreed to go. That’s, of course, the Holocaust concentration camps. Been in touch with (New England Patriots team owner Robert Kraft) who run the anti-hate group<‘ Portnoy explained in the second video.
Emergency Press Conference - I’m sending the people who ordered the “Fuck Jews” signs at my bar to Auschwitz to learn about the Holocaust. Rather than ruin a couple 20 year olds
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) May 4, 2025
lives maybe this can be used as a teaching moment pic.twitter.com/sci4hBPBFA
“We’re gonna send these kids to Auschwitz,” he continued. “They’re gonna do a tour of the concentration camps (in Poland). Hopefully learn something. Maybe their lives aren’t ruined, and they think twice and, more importantly, other people see it’s not just words you’re throwing around. To me, that’s a fair outcome of this event.”
Actor Ben Stiller, Pennsylvania’s Republican Sen. Dave McCormick, and others applauded Portnoy for the thoughtful reaction to the hateful incident and praised him for taking the high road, Fox News reported.
“Good on @stoolpresidente for not only immediately working to address the horrific display of hate displayed in Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, last night but also using it as an opportunity to educate on the tragic history of anti-Jewish hatred and violence,” Sen. McCormick wrote on social media.
“We can’t look the other way at antisemitism. It needs to be identified, called out, and crushed whenever it rears its ugly head,” he added.
Good on @stoolpresidente for not only immediately working to address the horrific display of hate displayed in Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, last night but also using it as an opportunity to educate on the tragic history of anti-Jewish hatred and violence.
— Senator Dave McCormick (@SenMcCormickPA) May 4, 2025
We can’t… pic.twitter.com/tAdbjLiYBX
Actor Stiller said he “agreed” with Portnoy’s solution in his response to the sports man’s solution.
X CEO Linda Yaccarino chimed in, writing, “Everyone needs to call out antisemitism when they see it. Thank you @stoolpresidente for doing the real work to ensure change.”
Everyone needs to call out antisemitism when they see it. Thank you @stoolpresidente for doing the real work to ensure change. https://t.co/dddJKHXcJP
— Linda Yaccarino (@lindayaX) May 4, 2025
Others, however, were less thrilled with Portnoy’s decision. The chief complaint against the educational trip was that the Barstool chief was rewarding these haters with an all-expenses-paid vacation and that this solution would do nothing to hold them accountable for their antisemitic actions.
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