Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy says the growing wave of political and antisemitic violence has forced him to take major precautions, including hiring around-the-clock security for his home.
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Getty; Credit - Dave Kotinsky
In an upcoming interview with Tony Dokoupil on CBS News Sunday Morning, Portnoy said he's grown increasingly concerned that online comments about him could inspire unstable individuals to act.
"I worry that some of these yahoos who mention me on social media could open the floodgates for lunatics," Portnoy said. "It only takes one."
The interview was recorded before an ugly encounter last week in Mississippi, where a man interrupted Portnoy's popular "One Bite" Pizza Review by shouting an antisemitic slur and allegedly throwing coins at him. Police later identified the suspect as 20-year-old Patrick McClintock, who was arrested and charged with disturbing the peace.
According to CBS News, antisemitic incidents have surged by 893% over the past decade, based on data from the Anti-Defamation League. That trend has fueled growing concern among Jewish public figures, including Portnoy, about personal safety in an increasingly polarized climate.
Portnoy, who is Jewish, has built Barstool into one of the most influential media brands in the country, known for its irreverent style and massive online following. His full interview with CBS News Sunday Morning is scheduled to air this weekend.
