Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, has detailed the contentious split between his company and the popular podcast Call Her Daddy, hosted by Alex Cooper and Sofia Franklyn. In his new memoir, Cancel Me If You Can, Portnoy alleges that the hosts threatened to fabricate a sexual harassment claim against Barstool Sports to extricate themselves from their contracts. This revelation sheds light on the behind-the-scenes turmoil that preceded the podcast’s departure from Barstool in 2020.
Contract Negotiations Sparked Dispute
According to Portnoy’s account, the dispute began during negotiations for a new contract in 2020. He claims that the hosts’ dissatisfaction with their arrangement with Barstool emerged after a visit to Logan Paul’s podcast in Los Angeles. Portnoy suggests that Paul’s input may have influenced Cooper and Franklyn’s perspective on their contracts and compensation.
Following this, Portnoy states that the hosts began to exhibit increasing reluctance to engage with Barstool, including ceasing to come into the office. By late 2019, the situation escalated when Call Her Daddy hired legal counsel and presented a list of demands that Portnoy describes as “preposterous.”
Demands and Allegations
Portnoy outlines the specific demands made by Cooper and Franklyn, which included:
- An annual salary of one million dollars each.
- The right to sell their own advertisements.
- Full ownership of the Call Her Daddy intellectual property.
- Ninety percent of their merchandise sales revenue.
- A reclassification away from being considered employees of Barstool Sports.
Portnoy also implicates Peter Nelson, identified as a former executive at HBO and Franklyn’s then-boyfriend, suggesting he played a significant role in orchestrating these negotiations. However, Franklyn has previously stated that Nelson’s involvement was not as extensive as speculated.
Alleged Threat of False Accusation
Portnoy claims that when negotiations stalled, the hosts effectively halted podcast production, creating a potential breach of contract situation. He recounts a clandestine meeting on the rooftop of his apartment building, where he presented what he considered an exceptionally generous offer designed to make the hosts “instant millionaires.”
It was during a subsequent private meeting with Alex Cooper, without Franklyn present, that Portnoy alleges the most serious threat was made. Cooper, according to Portnoy, expressed interest in his offer but indicated Franklyn would not agree. Portnoy then reminded Cooper of the potential legal repercussions if they moved the podcast to another network before their contract expired.
Portnoy writes in his memoir that Cooper then revealed their “game plan”: to claim they had both been sexually harassed at Barstool. Portnoy asserts this was intended as a tactic to escape their contractual obligations if he refused to release their intellectual property and allow them to join a rival network. He emphasizes the potential damage such an accusation, even if false, could inflict on Barstool’s reputation and his own credibility in the court of public opinion, given the company’s history of making edgy jokes.
Aftermath and Current Status
The fallout resulted in Call Her Daddy ultimately leaving Barstool. Alex Cooper continued the podcast independently, securing a reported $60 million deal with Spotify. Sofia Franklyn pursued her own ventures, including a separate podcast, and has publicly stated her lack of association with the current Call Her Daddy show. Both hosts are reportedly working on their own books.
Portnoy expresses strong opinions about Franklyn, calling her a “f***ing liar” in his memoir. He contends that women might believe her simply due to her gender or personal biases against him, but he maintains his own integrity. He argues that a woman willing to fabricate a sexual harassment claim sets back the progress of genuine victims.
The memoir details Portnoy’s perspective on the events leading to the separation, offering his side of a story that significantly impacted one of the world’s most popular podcasts. The narrative highlights the high stakes and intense personal dynamics involved in the podcast industry’s business dealings.
