In his new memoir, Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, has detailed a contentious fallout with the hosts of the popular podcast ‘Call Her Daddy,’ Alex Cooper and Sofia Franklyn. Portnoy alleges that the hosts, facing contract negotiations in 2020, threatened to fabricate a sexual harassment claim against Barstool Sports as leverage to break their agreement and secure a more lucrative deal elsewhere.

Allegations Detailed in Memoir

Portnoy’s memoir, titled ‘Cancel Me If You Can,’ outlines his account of the events leading to the split between Barstool and ‘Call Her Daddy.’ He claims that the hosts’ dissatisfaction with their contract and compensation became apparent after a visit to Los Angeles in April 2019 to appear on Logan Paul’s podcast. According to Portnoy, Paul’s comments during their discussion about their current deal planted seeds of discontent.

Following this trip, Portnoy asserts that Cooper and Franklyn began showing signs of dissatisfaction, including ceasing to come into the Barstool office. The situation escalated in late 2019 when the ‘Call Her Daddy’ team, represented by legal counsel, presented a list of demands that Portnoy deemed unreasonable. These demands reportedly included an annual salary of $1 million each, the right to sell their own advertisements, ownership of the ‘Call Her Daddy’ intellectual property, and 90 percent of their merchandise sales. Furthermore, they sought to no longer be classified as Barstool employees.

Negotiations and a Rooftop Confrontation

Portnoy suggests that Peter Nelson, then an executive at HBO and Franklyn’s boyfriend, played a significant role in these negotiations, describing him in his memoir as a detrimental influence. However, Franklyn has previously stated that Nelson’s involvement was minimal and that speculation about his role was inaccurate.

As contract talks stalled, Portnoy claims the hosts deliberately stopped producing new podcast episodes, a move that could have exposed them to a breach of contract lawsuit from Barstool. This impasse led to a private meeting on the rooftop of Portnoy’s apartment building. During this meeting, Portnoy states he presented what he considered the most generous offer in Barstool’s history, one that he believed would have made the hosts millionaires.

The ‘Sex Plot’ Allegation

Portnoy recounts a subsequent, separate meeting with Alex Cooper, who reportedly met with him alone. According to Portnoy’s memoir, Cooper expressed that while she liked the proposed deal, Franklyn would likely reject it. It was during this conversation that Portnoy claims Cooper revealed their contingency plan.

“Alex claimed to me that they had a plan to say they were both sexually harassed at Barstool,” Portnoy writes. He characterizes this as their strategy to escape their contractual obligations if he refused to relinquish intellectual property rights and allow them to move to a rival network.

Portnoy emphasizes the potential damage such an accusation could have inflicted on Barstool Sports, particularly given the company’s history of controversial humor. He notes that while Barstool had faced criticism for sexist jokes, it had never been accused of inappropriate workplace conduct. He expressed concern that, even if untrue, a sexual harassment claim would have been difficult to defend in the court of public opinion, potentially overshadowing his side of the story.

Aftermath and Current Ventures

The ‘Call Her Daddy’ podcast ultimately parted ways with Barstool. Alex Cooper secured a significant deal with Spotify, continuing the podcast as a solo venture. Sofia Franklyn pursued her own projects, including a separate podcast, and has no ongoing association with ‘Call Her Daddy.’

Portnoy, in his memoir, does not hold back his feelings about Franklyn’s role, calling her “a f***ing liar.” He suggests that public perception might favor Franklyn due to her gender or other biases, but he stands firm on his account. He also argues that a woman willing to fabricate a sexual harassment claim sets back the progress of other women.

Representatives for Alex Cooper, Sofia Franklyn, Logan Paul, and Peter Nelson have reportedly been contacted for comment regarding Portnoy’s allegations. Franklyn is also reportedly working on her own book, the contents of which Portnoy claims he is unaware.

Conclusion

The allegations detailed in Dave Portnoy’s memoir present a dramatic account of the business and personal conflicts that led to the high-profile departure of ‘Call Her Daddy’ from Barstool Sports. The core of his claims centers on a purported threat of a fabricated sexual harassment complaint, which he views as a tactic to circumvent contractual obligations and pursue lucrative opportunities with other platforms. This narrative adds a significant layer to the public understanding of one of the podcasting world’s most talked-about breakups.