Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy saw the backlash coming.
Portnoy took to Twitter and explained why the firing of Barstool personality Ben Mintz — of the “Wake Up Mintzy” show — could be a “death blow” to the brand’s reputation.
Mintz was fired from the company, which is owned by Penn Entertainment, on Wednesday after saying a racial slur while reading rap lyrics on a live stream two days prior.
“By the way for everybody saying Barstool is dead to them I knew this would happen,” Portnoy wrote on Wednesday. “I said it’s so against everything we stand for that it could be a death blow.
“Penn understood this. They still did it. That’s how frightened they were of regulators who operate with no impunity.”
When the news of Mintz’s firing first broke, Portnoy said in one of his “emergency press conference” videos that Penn made the call despite protestations from himself, Barstool CEO Erika Nardini, and longtime talent Dan Katz.
Portnoy claimed Penn’s decision to fire Mintz was over concern that the incident could jeopardize regulatory gambling licenses across the country.
In a separate post on Wednesday, Portnoy fired back at those saying he is “a sell-out” for caving to Penn’s decision to fire Mintz.
“So I got every Tom, Dick and Harry since this Mintzy thing saying, ‘pres, you’re a sell-out. Hey pres, you sold out,'” Portnoy said, admitting that’s exactly what he did.
“… You’re just figuring that out? I started a company and I f–king sold it the f–k out. Made hundreds of millions, made millions for everybody that grinded.
“… Yeah we sold the f–k out because that’s what you do when you’re an entrepreneur. You start this little company you dream one day and you sell it the f–k out.
“Still means this decision sucks. I hate it, it makes me want to puke.
“But guess what, when I sold out, a couple words, a couple things is very clear: you say these things, those decisions are no longer mine. I can’t protect you, you know why, because I sold out.”
Warning: Explicit Language
Penn acquired 36 percent of Barstool Sports from The Chernin Group for $163 million in early 2020 — and bought the remainder of the company for an additional $388 million in February 2023.
Mintz apologized Monday morning on Twitter and said he “meant no harm” when he uttered the racial slur while rapping the song “1st of Tha Month” by Bone Thugz-N-Harmony.
“This morning, I made an unforgivable mistake slipping on air while reading a song lyric,” Mintz wrote.
“I meant no harm & have never felt worse about anything. I apologize for my actions. I am truly sorry & ashamed of myself.”
On Wednesday, Mintz shared a “quick update” on Twitter.
“I am in good spirits,” he wrote. “I am def an idiot but I am also a resilient one.
“Will have a long video tomorrow thanking everyone. Way way too grateful to be too down.”
Portnoy told The Post he is not on board with Penn’s decision to fire Mintz.
“I hate the decision,” Portnoy said in a direct message. “I disagree with the decision. I would not have made the decision. But I don’t deal with the things Penn deals with in terms of state regulators etc.
“Penn paid a lot of money for Barstool and they have to make the best decisions to protect their business. I trust and respect [Penn CEO] Jay [Snowden] that he makes what he thinks is the right move and that’s all you can ask for. Doesn’t mean I’ll always agree but again he deals with things I don’t have to think or deal with.”
Kayce Smith, one of the hosts of Barstool’s “Unnecessary Roughness” podcast, seemingly defended Mintz on Twitter.
“I know ‘not my Barstool’ is often thrown around as a joke, but what happened with @BarstoolMintzy today is the real epitome of it,” Smith wrote, adding, “We’ll miss you, Mintzy!”