SouthernWorldwide.com – Dave Portnoy, the well-known figure behind Barstool Sports, has strongly criticized a political operative associated with Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner. This public rebuke came after the operative suggested a collaboration for a Boston sports-themed advertisement.
Platner had previously released an advertisement that targeted the involvement of private equity firms in the management of the Boston Red Sox. This was particularly relevant as John Henry II’s Fenway Sports Group, the principal owner of the Red Sox, includes numerous private equity investors and also holds a stake in NASCAR’s RFK Racing team.
The strategist, Jeff Coote, had reached out to Portnoy, framing the ad as an example of Platner’s “populist streak.” Coote expressed shared frustration over public sentiment regarding issues like the Red Sox and owner John Henry.
After Coote made a follow-up attempt to connect with Portnoy, the Barstool Sports personality responded with a sharp, personal attack. Portnoy, who is Jewish, directly addressed Coote’s suggestion by referencing a tattoo associated with Platner and questioning his political stance.
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Portnoy’s initial response to Coote was, “Hey Jeff. Now this is the Nazi guy right? Yeah I’d be happy to talk to him about that tattoo and him being a Nazi.” He then added, “I’m not as interested in his baseball takes. Let me know when we can set up some time. Dave.”
When Coote responded with “nice one,” Portnoy pressed further, asking, “is that a no?” Coote then indicated that if a productive conversation could be arranged, he would consider connecting Portnoy with Platner.
However, Portnoy was not ready to back down. He issued a challenge: “If your boy isn’t a Nazi and can handle me 1 on 1 in a convo set it up. If he can’t you should fire yourself for thinking I’d want to glamorize this clown.”
Platner has indeed faced significant criticism for a chest tattoo featuring the Totenkopf, a symbol historically linked to the German Nazi Schutzstaffel. This controversy has led to rebukes from various figures and groups.
Following the public sharing of the email exchange, Portnoy expressed his continued bewilderment as to why Platner’s campaign would assume he would be willing to “play footsy with a Nazi.”
The advertisement itself also generated controversy. Fenway Sports Group’s regional sports network, NESN, pulled the ad during the Red Sox game against the Minnesota Twins on a Friday. NESN stated that they regularly remove ads if there are “credible concerns” about intellectual property usage. While not explicitly detailed, the ad appeared to use a red font style similar to that of the baseball team.
Platner himself confirmed the ad’s removal on social media. The ad’s content criticized Fenway for what Platner termed the “private equity curse” affecting the team.
Platner further amplified the “private equity curse” narrative on social media platform X, noting that the Red Sox “blew a 4-0 lead” shortly after NESN stopped airing his advertisement. This was presented as further evidence of his claims.
The advertisement highlighted a specific investment: RedBird Partners acquired an 11% stake in Fenway Sports Group in 2021. This investment occurred not long after the Red Sox traded their star outfielder, Mookie Betts, to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020, a move that Platner referenced in his ad.
Platner’s message in the ad was clear: “Private equity is destroying our favorite baseball team, stripping them for parts — Private equity is buying up our homes our sports and our lives.” He concluded with, “I will reverse the private equity curse. I’m Graham Platner and I approve this message because I miss Mookie Betts.”
