Barstool Sports Founder Responds to Anti-Semitic Sign at Philadelphia Bar

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool‍ Sports, expressed outrage sunday after an anti-Semitic message appeared on a sign at his Philadelphia bar.Portnoy, who is jewish, vowed to take action against those responsible.

Portnoy’s Initial Reaction

In ⁤a profanity-laced video posted online, Portnoy described his⁤ initial reaction upon learning of the sign, which reportedly⁤ read: “F— Los Jews.”

“I ⁤have been trembling.I have been so crazy during the last two hours,”

Dave Portnoy

He initially stated he would “turn it‍ into my life from the mission to ruin these people,” but later tempered his response.

Change of Approach

Portnoy later said he had ⁤calmed down after speaking with two individuals involved in ordering the⁤ sign and their families. He indicated a shift from⁣ seeking retribution to using the incident as a learning possibility.

“So yes,‍ my initial reaction was like, I’m going to burn these people to the ground, their families, everything, and it’s like, you know what? Maybe that is not the best course of action. Maybe I can use this as a moment of teaching,” Portnoy said.

Addressing Rising ‍Anti-Semitism

Portnoy highlighted what he sees as⁤ a recent surge in anti-Semitism.

“I have been making bar bars for 20 years.‍ I⁤ have had more hate, more anti -semitism in the last year, year and a half, of what ‍I have never had,”

Dave Portnoy

He contrasted this with political discourse, emphasizing the targeting of Jewish⁢ people themselves.

Trip to Auschwitz

Portnoy announced he is⁤ paying for the two ⁤individuals involved to travel to Auschwitz, the Nazi concentration camp where approximately 1 million Jews were murdered during the Holocaust. he said they had agreed to the trip.

“So, for everyone who wants them to ruin the lives of these children, I ⁣think you ‍can say goodbye and I think this is a fair trade,” Portnoy said.

Barstool Sansom Street’s Response

Portnoy confirmed that two waitresses ⁤were fired‍ as a result of the ⁤incident. An official statement from the⁣ bar confirmed that several employees were terminated following an inquiry.

The bar’s statement explained that customers paying for bottle service could choose a message to display on a neon sign.⁣ According to the statement, an ‍employee fulfilled a customer’s⁢ request to display the anti-Semitic message.

“We are sad, ashamed and frustrated by the deplorable actions of a wrong client and personnel who acts outside‍ the reach of their duties, which resulted in⁤ an anti -Semitic hate speech last night in our establishment,” ⁤the statement read.

The bar ⁤issued an apology and pledged to enhance preventative⁤ measures.

“We apologize deeply due to the role we played by allowing hate speech to occur, since we constantly strive⁣ to create a cozy atmosphere and acceptance for all groups,” the statement continued. “This unfortunate incident is the opposite of what we defend, and we ⁣will ⁤double efforts to avoid such actions in the future.”

Temple⁢ University Investigation

Temple University released a statement Sunday stating they are ⁤investigating the incident after learning that at least one student “is⁤ involved.” The student has been placed on interim suspension, according⁢ to ⁢the statement.

Temple University President John Fry called the incident “deeply disturbing.”

“In‍ the strongest terms, allow me to be clear: anti -Semitism is abhorrent. It does not take place in the temple and the acts of hate and discrimination against any person or⁤ person is not tolerated in this university.”

John Fry, Temple⁢ University President