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Dave Portnoy attending a public event in a dark jacket
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Dave Portnoy Blasts Macklemore as 'Antisemitic' in Fierce Defense of Robert Kraft

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy is backing New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft 100 percent in his feud with rapper Macklemore.

By Rae MitchellPublished Updated 2 min read

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has officially jumped into the public clash between rapper Macklemore and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, throwing his full weight behind the billionaire sports executive. The outspoken media personality did not mince words when taking to social media on Wednesday afternoon, launching a scathing critique against the hitmaking musician. According to reports, Portnoy publicly branded Macklemore an antisemite during his online blast. He praised Kraft as the true hero in the high-profile conflict, declaring that he backs the NFL franchise owner completely as the situation continues to develop.

Why did Dave Portnoy call Macklemore antisemitic?

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Portnoy's fiery post on Wednesday afternoon immediately set social media ablaze. The Barstool creator aimed his criticism squarely at Macklemore, condemning the artist's actions and public positioning in the feud. By employing such severe terminology, Portnoy sharply raised the stakes of the ongoing back-and-forth. Portnoy's vocal involvement fits his long history of standing up for key New England figures. In his online commentary, he made sure there was zero confusion about his stance, positioning Kraft as the honorable party while placing the blame entirely on the rap star.

dave portnoy package from Joseph's Pizza Parlor results in bomb scare
dave portnoy package from Joseph's Pizza Parlor results in bomb scare

What is the controversy involving Macklemore and Robert Kraft?

The friction between Macklemore and Kraft has sparked widespread discussion across pop culture and digital news outlets. With Portnoy stepping up to offer a full-throated defense of Kraft, the argument has drawn even more eyes from fans of both sports and music. Portnoy insisted he supports Kraft entirely in his face-off with the musician, leaving no room for compromise. His public endorsement of Kraft serves as a reminder of his deep-rooted allegiance to the Patriots chief, contrasting sharply with his hostile stance toward the Seattle-bred rapper. As the commentary continues to circulate across platforms, neither Macklemore nor representatives for Kraft have issued immediate follow-up statements addressing Portnoy's harsh online remarks. However, with Portnoy inserting his massive platform into the narrative, the high-profile fallout between the hip-hop star and the billionaire team owner shows no signs of quieting down anytime soon.

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Dave Portnoy attending a public event in a dark jacket
dave portnoy reviewing Joseph's Pizza Parlor
dave portnoy package from Joseph's Pizza Parlor results in bomb scare

The backstory

Verified moments, in order.

Dave Portnoy: Patriots loyalty, business deals and public battles

The sports-media founder builds his name in Boston, turns football loyalty into confrontation and faces scrutiny over his own conduct.

  1. The Massachusetts roots

    Dave Portnoy — The Massachusetts roots

    Born on March 22, Portnoy grows up in a Jewish family in Swampscott, Massachusetts. His Jewish identity and allegiance to Boston-area teams become recurring parts of his public persona.

  2. A free newspaper starts the business

    Portnoy launches a free sports-and-gambling newspaper in the Boston area. He builds it into a digital media company, putting his own opinions and confrontational style at the center of the brand.

  3. 2015-05Flashpoint

    Defending Brady ends in handcuffs

    Portnoy and three colleagues stage a sit-in at the NFL's New York headquarters after the league suspends Patriots quarterback Tom Brady over Deflategate. Police arrest the four after they refuse to leave—a public demonstration of Portnoy's commitment to Robert Kraft's team.

  4. 2020-01

    The betting business buys in

    Penn National Gaming announces a deal to acquire a 36 percent stake in Portnoy's company for approximately $163 million in cash and stock. The deal links his sports-media operation to a major gambling company.

  5. 2020-06Flashpoint

    Old recordings bring a new backlash

    Resurfaced recordings draw criticism over Portnoy's use of racist language, including the N-word, and comments comparing Colin Kaepernick's appearance to Osama bin Laden's. His own record becomes the subject of public scrutiny.

  6. 2021-11Flashpoint

    Sexual-misconduct allegations surface

    Women publicly describe sexual encounters with Portnoy that they say become violent or humiliating. Portnoy denies sexual misconduct and maintains that the encounters are consensual.

  7. 2023-08

    He buys the company back for $1

    Dave Portnoy — He buys the company back for $1

    After Penn takes full ownership earlier in the year, Portnoy reacquires his company for $1. The agreement gives Penn half the gross proceeds from a future sale or certain other monetization events, while returning ownership to the founder.

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People also ask

What did Dave Portnoy say about Macklemore?
Dave Portnoy publicly called rapper Macklemore an antisemite during a social media post on Wednesday afternoon, coming out strongly against the musician.
Who is Dave Portnoy supporting in the feud?
Portnoy stated he backs New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft 100% in his ongoing showdown with Macklemore.