Barstool Sports Founder Dave Portnoy and his girlfriend Silvana Mojica at the time (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Barstool Sports founder and CEO Dave Portnoy is facing backlash after a troubling incident at his company’s Philadelphia bar sparked outrage over the weekend.

During a bottle service presentation, staff displayed a sign with an antisemitic slur, leading to widespread condemnation on social media.

Portnoy, who often courts controversy but rarely backs down, moved quickly this time — announcing that two employees involved in the situation have been fired.

The incident has reignited debates about the culture surrounding Barstool and how the brand handles serious issues. As the fallout continues, Portnoy has made it clear he’s trying to distance both himself and the company from the offensive act.

Barstool Sports CEO Dave Portnoy has announced two firings amid some controversy involving his bar

Portnoy’s Barstool Sports bar in Philadelphia was the scene of an unfortunate occurrence this weekend after a group of people receiving bottle service requested an explicit phrase be placed on the sign used to bring the bottles out.

The sign read “F**k the Jews” and has generated quite the storm on social media.

At @barstoolsports event in Philadelphia, a sign read “Fuck the Jews.”

If there was this level of overwhelming and overt bigotry towards any other group, it would receive nonstop attention, but with Jews, it’s completely ignored. pic.twitter.com/EqlnU5dwsV

— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) May 4, 2025

Portnoy, who’s Jewish himself, was extremely upset at the misstep.

Dave Portnoy Calls Emergency Press Conference

Dave Portnoy (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

The Barstool owner revealed that the two bottle service girls responsible have already been handed marching orders, while he has an idea who asked for the sign.

“The 2 bottle service girls who did it have already been fired,” he said in what he called an “Emergency Press Conference.”

“I gave them 1 hour to make it right whether it be anti semitism classes etc. If it’s not up to snuff I’ll put em all in lights.”

Portnoy’s frustration is certainly understandable. Not only is this a bad look for his establishment, but it’s a direct shot at him, given his ethnicity.

It’s also pretty puzzling how the bottle service people actually complied with such a request, as we imagine staying away from phrases slighting any race would be common sense.