In a recent incident during a pizza review in Starkville, Mississippi, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy encountered antisemitic remarks. Portnoy was filming one of his well-known “One Bite” pizza reviews outside Boardtown Pizza when a passerby shouted, “F–k the Jews.”
Immediate Reaction to Antisemitic Remark
The crowd present quickly denounced the offensive comment. Portnoy, who is Jewish, confronted the heckler, urging him to come closer to the camera, as captured in a video shared on social media platform X. The engagement led to an inaudible exchange between Portnoy and the man who made the remark before the latter walked away.
- Portnoy responded, “That was awful,” as heard from a woman in the crowd.
- Another onlooker yelled at the heckler, “F–k you, get out of here.”
Context of the Incident
This incident occurred while Portnoy was creating content near Mississippi State University. This was not the first time Portnoy faced antisemitic comments during his pizza reviews; a similar incident took place in June on the streets of Toronto.
Previous Antisemitic Encounters
In June, Portnoy was again targeted with the same phrase while filming outside Terrazza in Toronto. His reaction then was notable, as he acknowledged the rude interruption by saying, “See, there we go.”
- Portnoy has faced such comments multiple times during his reviews.
- Fans in the background reacted with laughter during the Starkville incident, which Portnoy quickly addressed.
“What are you guys f–king laughing about?” he stated, prompting silence from the crowd. Portnoy held his ground, shifting focus back to his review, indicating that such behavior would not be tolerated.
Conclusion
Such incidents highlight the troubling presence of antisemitism that individuals may face in public spaces. Portnoy’s experiences shed light on the need for continued awareness and condemnation of such remarks.
