Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy reportedly issued a scathing rebuke to N Magazine — a publication focused on the exclusive island of Nantucket, Massachusetts — for apologizing to its readers after backlash over its May cover story on him.
According to Page Six, Portnoy called the magazine “spineless” for its mea culpa and added that “everybody who doesn’t like me can go f*** themselves.”
What are the details?
Page Six noted that N Magazine ran a “a glowing profile on Portnoy’s charity effort to raise money for small businesses.” But apparently that didn’t sit well with some woke folks.
So on Friday, publisher Bruce A. Percelay and editor Robert Cocuzzo penned an apology that ran on the magazine’s Facebook page, saying “a number of people in the community have taken issue with offensive remarks and actions [Portnoy] has made in the past. We never want to hurt, offend, or disappoint any of our readers with the stories we publish. Accordingly, we formally apologize for any pain caused to those who have objected to this May cover.”
The apology also read, “We now recognize and acknowledge our oversight in how this story would be received. We appreciate feedback, positive or otherwise, because ultimately it helps make us a better publication going forward.”
Portnoy has been accused of sexism, misogyny, and using racist language, Page Six noted.
What did Portnoy have to say?
But Page Six reported that the Barstool Sports founder — who owns a $2 million home on Nantucket — when reached for comment said “everybody who doesn’t like me can go f*** themselves” and that “if you took a poll on Nantucket of people who like me and hate me, I’d bet 99 percent like me.”
Page Six also said that Portnoy added “it’s unfortunate that the powers that be at N Magazine are spineless jellyfish who are held hostage by the whims of the vocal minority. Meanwhile, I will continue to do my best to make Nantucket and America a better place while those who hate me can continue to throw cry parties for themselves about how I made a joke they didn’t like 20 years ago.”
According to Variety, Portnoy last year was unapologetic about using racist language in “comedy” videos and quipped, “Memo to the cancel cops. I knew this was coming before you did. And I’m ready. You don’t cancel me. I cancel you.”
He added, “They’ve been trying to cancel me for two decades — I’m uncancelable.”