Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, expressed outrage over an antisemitic sign displayed at his Philadelphia bar, Barstool Sansom Street, during an event on Saturday night. While he suggested the sign was likely intended as a joke, he emphasized that such humor is unacceptable in light of a noticeable rise in antisemitism. He has since fired the two servers who delivered the sign, although their identities were not disclosed. Portnoy mentioned that bottle service often includes customized signs, but he questioned the mindset of those involved, describing their actions as “pure idiocy.”
In a related incident, a Temple University student was placed on interim suspension for their purported involvement, prompting an investigation by the university. Portnoy criticized the customers associated with the sign, expressing disbelief about their thought process during the incident. Vladislav Khaykin from the Simon Wiesenthal Center condemned the normalization of antisemitism in public spaces, appreciating Portnoy’s swift response.
Portnoy, who identifies as Jewish, noted that critics have misrepresented his reaction. To illustrate the gravity of the situation, he extended an offer for a trip to Auschwitz to two customers involved, intending to foster a deeper understanding of the Holocaust. However, one customer later distanced themselves from responsibility, leading Portnoy to rescind the trip offer.
Reflecting on the broader social climate, Portnoy voiced concern about the environment that fosters hate, stating, “To feel like you’re hated, for really nothing… it’s creating an unsafe vibe for people.” His comments underscore the disturbing trend of increasing antisemitism and the need for accountability and education.
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