Dave Portnoy is pulling back the curtain on one of the biggest podcast breakups in recent memory.
In his newly released memoir, the founder of the Barstool Sports website revisits the dramatic collapse of “Call Her Daddy,” claiming the split involved secret meetings, explosive contract demands, and allegations he says could have destroyed his company.
Years after the blockbuster fallout between Alex Cooper, Sofia Franklyn, and Barstool, Portnoy is now sharing his version of events in striking detail.
According to Dave Portnoy, the partnership between Barstool Sports and “Call Her Daddy” appeared stable until Alex Cooper and Sofia Franklyn traveled to Los Angeles to appear on Logan Paul’s podcast in April 2019.
The social media personality claimed there had been no signs of unhappiness before that trip, writing per the Daily Mail, “There was no indication that Alex and Sofia were unhappy with their situation, until they met Logan Paul.”
He alleged that conversations with Paul about their contracts and compensation planted doubts that grew over the following months.
Portnoy wrote that the hosts gradually distanced themselves from Barstool, first by staying away from the office, and eventually by hiring a lawyer to renegotiate their contracts.
He described the meeting as a turning point, claiming their demands included $1 million annually for each host, ownership of the “Call Her Daddy” intellectual property, control over advertising sales, 90 percent of merchandise revenue, and employee reclassification.
Portnoy said the requests were so extreme that he couldn’t even finish the meeting. He also alleged that former HBO executive Peter Nelson, who was dating Franklyn at the time, played a significant role in the negotiations.
Franklyn has previously denied those claims, saying speculation surrounding Nelson’s involvement was false and that he was not heavily involved.
Portnoy Claims Podcast Went Silent During Contract Standoff
As negotiations intensified, Dave Portnoy alleged that the hosts stopped releasing new episodes to pressure Barstool into accepting their demands.
He said the production freeze raised the possibility of legal action for breach of contract, setting off increasingly tense negotiations between the two sides.
Portnoy recalled arranging a private meeting with the hosts on the rooftop of his apartment building, where he presented what he described as “the most generous offer in Barstool history.”
According to him, the proposal would have made both Cooper and Franklyn instant millionaires while allowing them to continue building the successful podcast.
Despite the offer, Portnoy said the dispute remained unresolved. The standoff ultimately became one of the most public contract battles in podcasting, eventually leading to the end of the original “Call Her Daddy” partnership and Franklyn’s departure from the show.
Dave Portnoy Says Alex Cooper Secretly Met With Him Alone
One of the biggest revelations in Portnoy’s memoir centers on a private meeting he claims took place between himself and Cooper without Franklyn present.
According to the 49-year-old, Cooper asked for another rooftop meeting after reviewing his revised offer.
He recalled the 31-year-old telling him, “I love the deal you proposed, and I want to take it. But Sofia is never going to take it.”
Portnoy said he reminded Cooper that Barstool would pursue legal action if the podcast moved elsewhere before the contract expired.
He then made his most explosive allegation, claiming Cooper revealed that she and Franklyn had discussed accusing Barstool of sexual harassment to escape their contractual obligations.
Portnoy wrote that the alleged strategy would have been used if Barstool refused to surrender ownership of the podcast.
He acknowledged the seriousness of the accusation, writing, “I realize that this is a heavy accusation I just made: how Call Her Daddy was allegedly planning to break their contract with us by lying about sexual harassment at Barstool.”
Portnoy Says Public Opinion Would Have Been Against Him
Reflecting on that alleged conversation, Dave Portnoy argued that Barstool would have faced an uphill battle if sexual harassment accusations had become public.
He noted that Barstool had long been criticized for controversial humor but said the company had never previously faced allegations of inappropriate workplace conduct.
Portnoy wrote that even if he believed the accusations were false, “Nobody would have believed my side of the story.”
He suggested public perception alone could have inflicted lasting damage on both him and the company, regardless of the outcome of any legal dispute.
The businessman described the moment as one of the most significant crises he had ever faced while running the company.
Dave Portnoy Fires Back At Sofia Franklyn Ahead Of Her Own Memoir
Portnoy also addressed reports that Franklyn is preparing to release her own book, acknowledging that he has no idea what her version of events will include.
While leaving open the possibility that parts of her story could be accurate, he did not hide his opinion.
“Listen, I have no idea what she’ll write in her book,” Portnoy wrote before adding, “In my book, Sofia Franklyn is a f*cking liar.”
He also argued that some readers may automatically side with Franklyn for a variety of personal reasons, but insisted his account reflects what he believes happened behind the scenes.
Portnoy concluded by criticizing those who view Franklyn as a feminist figure, writing that he believes anyone supporting her should remember his allegation that she was willing to falsely weaponize claims of sexual harassment.
