Barstool Sports activities founder Dave Portnoy mentioned dad or mum firm, Penn Leisure, pressured him hearth standard character Ben Mintz for rapping the “n-word” throughout a dwell present as a result of it feared authorities retaliation.
“Unhealthy information, this sucks. So, right now we needed to hearth Ben Mintz,” Portnoy mentioned to open an “emergency press convention” video he posted on social media. “Backside line is that this, I hate the choice. I don’t agree with the choice, but it surely’s not my determination to make and after we offered Barstool to Penn, we knew what got here with it.”
Earlier this week, Mintz didn’t censor himself when studying rap lyrics on a dwell version of “Wake Up With Mintzy.” Following the incident, Mintz mentioned he made an “unforgivable mistake” and apologized.
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Barstool Sports activities founder Dave Portnoy mentioned dad or mum firm, Penn Leisure, pressured him hearth standard character Ben Mintz for accidently rapping the “n-word” throughout a dwell present as a result of it feared authorities retaliation. (The Dave Portnoy Present With Eddie & Co/Youtube)
In 2020, Penn acquired 36 % of Barstool Sports activities from The Chernin Group for $163 million earlier than shopping for the rest of the corporate for an extra $388 million earlier this 12 months, in accordance with the New York Submit. The corporate operates playing properties in 20 states, which require licenses that Portnoy mentioned may be simply revoked.
“He rapped a racial slur, he turned White as a ghost, you would inform immediately he was like, ‘Oh my God, what did I do?’ It was a Ron Burgundy second, he learn it, he knew he f—-d up, he’s been tremendous apologetic, like in shambles principally,” Portnoy defined in his “emergency press convention” video that was seen over 2.5 million instances because it was posted on Wednesday.
Portnoy mentioned that Barstool CEO Erika Nardini and Dan Katz, arguably the corporate’s largest star, each pushed for Mintz to maintain his job as nicely.
“There was no hatred behind it, no nothing. Nonetheless terrible, however not in my wildest goals did I believe I’d be sitting right here being like, ‘We needed to hearth Ben Mintz,’” Portnoy mentioned. “Penn felt in another way. Penn felt in another way and I’m shocked by it, and I’ve been combating tooth and nail, as has Erika, as has Dan, to maintain Ben and say that is the improper determination however Penn operates in a world that we don’t function in.”
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Dave Portnoy doesn’t consider the “punishment matches the crime” however defined Penn Leisure executives had been deeply involved about potential penalties. ((Photograph by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Photographs))
Portnoy defined that Penn is “extremely regulated by the federal government” as a result of they’re “issued licenses for playing” that might simply be revoked.
“Lots of people hate my guts, they f—–g hate me, they hate Barstool, they usually search for any lever, any excuse, something, to trigger issues for us and pull the licenses,” Portnoy mentioned. “Penn is satisfied, they usually’ve been very clear, Penn, since they took over. It’s a zero-tolerance coverage shifting ahead, you possibly can’t do stuff like this… they usually consider there’s a official probability a lot of the states would pull their licenses due to this.”
Portnoy, who’s often attacked by the mainstream media, doesn’t consider the “punishment matches the crime” however defined Penn honchos had been deeply involved about potential penalties.
WARNING THIS VIDEO CONTAINS PROFANE LANGUAGE
“Penn’s a billion-dollar firm, a multi-billion greenback firm, with out their licenses they’re a zero-dollar firm,” he mentioned. “Traders, households, workers, 1000’s of individuals, they really feel it’s their job to guard all of this and the one reply is to fireside Ben Mintz. I nonetheless disagree with it.”
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Penn operates 43 playing properties in 20 states, on-line sports activities betting in 17 jurisdictions and iCasino in 5 jurisdictions beneath manufacturers, together with Hollywood On line casino, L’Auberg, and theScore Wager Sportsbook and On line casino, along with Barstool Sportsbook and On line casino.
Portnoy mentioned it makes his “pores and skin crawl” desirous about Mintz shedding his job over an “harmless mistake,” even it was horrible and by no means ought to have occurred.
“It’s the whole lot I’ve stood towards for 20 years,” Portnoy mentioned. “And I informed Penn.”
Barstool Sports activities founder Dave Portnoy says he disagrees with Penn Leisure’s determination to fireside a preferred character however understands the necessity to defend itself. (Fox Information)
Portnoy added that he “loves” Penn Leisure CEO Jay Snowden and mentioned the 2 have related world views.
“I don’t assume he’s doing it out of spite,” Portnoy mentioned. “I believe he’s doing what he has to do and the board is doing what they should do to guard Penn Leisure. I nonetheless f—–g disagree with it.”
Portnoy, who has created viral content material round the whole lot from pizza opinions to serving to small companies survive the COVID pandemic, has put an emphasis on gambling-related content material since being acquired by Penn.
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“I hate the choice. Hate, hate, hate, I attempted to persuade it to be in any other case as a lot as I may. Ultimately, they know the dangers and the downsides and nonetheless felt they needed to make this determination, which is a nasty determination for everyone concerned however from Penn’s perspective it’s higher than risking your entire livelihood of the corporate,” Portnoy mentioned.
Many Barstool personalities have tweeted tributes to Mintz.
