What was supposed to be just another lively night at a Barstool-branded bar in Philadelphia took a deeply disturbing turn when an antisemitic message lit up on a bottle service sign.
But Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy wasn’t about to let the hateful display go unanswered—and he’s handled the fallout in a way that’s drawn widespread attention and sparked a serious conversation.
The Sign That Sparked Outrage
It all started at the Barstool Sansom Street bar in Center City, Philadelphia.
A group at a table ordered a light-up sign to accompany their bottle service—something usually meant for harmless fun.
But instead, they requested a message that read “F*** the Jews.”
Portnoy, who is Jewish himself, was absolutely furious when he found out.
He didn’t hold back in his first video response, describing himself as “shaking” with rage.
“You think I’m going to tolerate this st at my bar?” he said.
“I’m going to make it my f*ing mission to ruin these people.”
Tracking Down the People Behind It
Portnoy quickly began gathering information, tracking down the server staff involved and the individuals at the table.
Two waitresses were identified as having served the group—and both have since been fired.
One of them, he said, didn’t go to a manager and pressured her co-worker into participating.
Portnoy called her “the dumbest human I’ve ever talked to.”
Meanwhile, he also confronted individuals connected to the Instagram story where the sign was posted.
One person behind the post—reportedly a student at Temple University—insisted they weren’t antisemitic and were moved to tears when speaking with Portnoy.
But Portnoy wasn’t buying it: “You think I’m just gonna sit here? I’m gonna make it my mission to put you in lights.”
From Punishment to Education
But after cooling down a bit, Portnoy took a surprising turn.
Rather than “burn these people to the ground,” as he originally planned, he decided to turn the moment into a teachable one.
He reached out to Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and founder of the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, to come up with a response that could be more meaningful.
Their decision? The individuals involved will be sent to tour the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland—at Portnoy’s expense.
A Tour of Auschwitz as a Wake-Up Call
In a follow-up video, Portnoy acknowledged that the people behind the sign were likely young, drunk, and dumb—but said that ignorance isn’t an excuse.
“You want to turn hate into something good? Maybe this is it,” he said.
“Let’s make sure they learn what they clearly don’t understand.”
Though he mistakenly said Auschwitz was in Germany (it’s in Poland), the intention was clear: education over annihilation.
“Let’s turn this hideous moment into something they’ll never forget—and hopefully they’ll never repeat.”
Temple University Responds
Temple University also weighed in, confirming that one of their students was involved.
That student has been placed on interim suspension, and the university says others will face disciplinary action if found responsible.
Temple’s president, John Fry, issued a strong statement denouncing antisemitism: “It has no place at Temple. Acts of hatred and discrimination will not be tolerated.”
Support from the Barstool Team
Many of Portnoy’s colleagues at Barstool Sports spoke out in support of his actions.
Kayce Smith called the incident “sickening,” while Rico Bosco said there’s “no place in the world for this.”
Portnoy’s History of Calling Out Antisemitism
This isn’t the first time Portnoy has been vocal about antisemitism.
Just last month, he made headlines at UFC 314 when he waved an Israeli flag ringside—clearly aimed at fighter Bryce Mitchell, who had previously denied the Holocaust in a podcast appearance.
After Mitchell lost his fight, Portnoy posted: “Always fun to see a Hitler lover get his a** whooped.”
He’s also been outspoken about Kanye West’s antisemitic remarks.
Speaking earlier this year, he called the rapper “one of the absolute greatest pieces of s*** of all time.”
Final Word from Portnoy
In the end, Portnoy says he’s doing his best to balance outrage with responsibility.
“I’m trying to keep it together,” he said. “I’m trying to be responsible. But make no mistake—I’m on it.”
He urged the public not to pile on the people involved, now that they’ve agreed to the Auschwitz trip.
“I think this is a fair f***ing trade,” he concluded. “Let’s hope it actually changes something.”
