New York Governor Kathy Hochul Savages Dave Portnoy in Bizarre Online Exchange
In a startling and personal online confrontation, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has brutally mocked media mogul Dave Portnoy over his ex-girlfriend's alleged affair with a cycling instructor from nearly a decade ago. The bizarre exchange erupted after Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, criticised Hochul's attempts to convince wealthy elites to return to New York City.
Portnoy's Critique Sparks Fierce Retaliation
Dave Portnoy initiated the feud by posting on social media platform X, questioning the governor's strategy. 'The unbelievable arrogance and hypocrisy of begging millionaires to return to New York while the new Mayor simultaneously says he despises millionaires and supports communism,' Portnoy wrote. 'I wonder why people are flocking to Florida?'
Governor Hochul's press office responded with a vicious and unexpected reference to SoulCycle, the fitness company at the centre of Portnoy's 2017 personal scandal. The response included a screenshot highlighting that New York has the highest number of SoulCycle locations nationwide, accompanied by the taunting message: 'Is this why you’re so mad.'
Adding insult to injury, Hochul's account extended a sarcastic invitation to Portnoy, asking him to join a SoulCycle class in the city that Friday. This move left the media mogul visibly stunned and prompted an immediate counterattack.
Portnoy Fires Back Amidst Confusion and Anger
'I’m so confused. Did Gov Hochul really just make fun of me for getting cucked 10 years ago? I did by the way. Even sold tshirts about it,' Portnoy posted in reply. He then launched a scathing critique of Hochul's policies, alleging she is 'begging millionaires like me to come back to New York to pay for communism, hotels for illegals and pedicures for terrorist loving wife’s photo shoots.'
The reference to t-shirts harks back to Portnoy's commercialisation of his heartbreak in 2017, when he sold merchandise emblazoned with the word 'CuckCycle'. At the time, Barstool Sports employees aggressively targeted SoulCycle's social media, leading the company to instruct trainers to call police if anyone threatened them at studios.
Portnoy mercilessly shared that internal message online, commenting: 'Best way to avoid calling 911? Don't have your instructors f*** the girlfriend of head of major media company.'
Background of the 2017 Scandal and Aftermath
The original scandal involved Portnoy's then-girlfriend, Jordyn Hamilton, whom he accused of cheating with a SoulCycle instructor. Hamilton never publicly addressed the allegations, but according to a biography about Portnoy, she later sent him a message of support when he faced sexual misconduct allegations in 2021.
Those allegations, detailed in a Business Insider exposé, accused Portnoy of violent and aggressive sexual encounters and filming women without consent. Portnoy vehemently denied all claims, labelling the article a 'hit piece' and insisting it insinuated he was a rapist.
Social Media Backlash Against Hochul's Tactics
Governor Hochul's decision to mock Portnoy's personal life did not resonate well with many social media users. One critic commented: 'Yeah keep insulting all business owners lol that’ll really make them wanna come back and employ hundreds of people.'
Another user posted: 'Keep trolling Dave. That will really show those millionaires and billionaires that NY is a warm inviting state to live in!' A third expressed dismay, writing: 'I actually might have to leave NY after this cringe tweet. My God.'
This public spat underscores the increasingly personal nature of political discourse online and raises questions about the effectiveness of such tactics in policy debates concerning economic migration and elite residency.
