Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has launched a fierce attack on internet personality Adin Ross, branding his actions a "total a**hole move" in the wake of an antisemitic controversy involving NFL star Puka Nacua. The row erupted after Ross encouraged the Los Angeles Rams wide receiver to perform a touchdown celebration based on a harmful Jewish stereotype.
The Controversial Livestream and Immediate Fallout
The incident occurred earlier this month during one of Adin Ross's livestreams. Ross suggested that Puka Nacua should rub his hands together after scoring a touchdown, a gesture the streamer uses to reference a degrading stereotype about Jewish people. Nacua, apparently unaware of the offensive connotation, performed the celebration live on air.
The timing of the act was particularly sensitive, coming just days after the Bondi massacre in Australia, where 15 people were killed in a targeted attack near a Hanukkah celebration. Nacua quickly backtracked, issuing a public apology in which he stated he had "no idea" about the reference's antisemitic nature. The Los Angeles Rams also released a statement condemning antisemitism and all forms of prejudice.
Explosive Text Message Exchange Revealed
The dispute escalated into a private, heated text message exchange between Portnoy and Ross, which the latter subsequently shared on his livestream on Wednesday. Portnoy initiated the contact, texting Ross: "Why'd you tell Puka to do that dance? Seems like an a**hole dumb thing to do."
Ross defended the act as "a joke" that shouldn't have "been taken too seriously." Portnoy fired back, criticising the timing: "Yeah telling a dude to do an antisemitic td [touchdown] dance 5 seconds after 15 people get murdered in Australia surely wouldn't be taken too seriously. Idiotic thing to do. You play both sides."
The argument then broadened into a debate about antisemitism and the Jewish community's response to it. Ross argued that "we need to add comedic light to show ppl we can take jokes" and accused Portnoy of playing "the victim card." Portnoy retorted by reminding Ross that both he and his father had previously thanked him for speaking out against antisemitism.
Portnoy's Public Condemnation and Broader Context
In comments to the Daily Mail, Portnoy doubled down on his criticism. "I thought the way he set up Puka Nacua, by telling him to do that dance, was a total a***hole move by him," Portnoy stated. "Anybody with a brain knew that would cause a controversy. For what? So Adin could get a couple clicks?"
Portnoy expressed his disappointment, noting his past interactions with Ross. "I was very surprised he’d be that dumb since every time I’ve met Adin he, as well as his dad, have privately thanked me for standing up against antisemitism," he said.
This controversy is not an isolated incident for either figure. Despite being Jewish himself, Adin Ross has previously faced scrutiny for platforming far-right figures like Nick Fuentes. Meanwhile, Dave Portnoy has become an increasingly vocal critic of rising antisemitism. Just last month, he sat for an interview with CBS News to discuss the surge in anti-Jewish hatred in the United States, an interview filmed shortly after he suffered antisemitic abuse in Starkville, Mississippi.
Portnoy concluded his remarks to the Mail by stating, "In hindsight if I knew how Adin felt in the first place I never would have texted him. I didn’t realize I was dealing with an idiot. My fault." The public fallout underscores the heightened tensions and ongoing debates surrounding antisemitism, the responsibilities of influencers, and the lines between humour and harmful stereotyping in the digital age.
