Dave Portnoy fumes at Adin Ross after Puka Nacua controversy over antisemitic celebration
- - Dave Portnoy fumes at Adin Ross after Puka Nacua controversy over antisemitic celebration
Bridget ReillyDecember 25, 2025 at 8:47 PM
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An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Collage of Dave Portnoy speaking into a microphone and a smaller inset image of Adin Ross and a friend posing with their fists up
Dave Portnoy has some gripes with Adin Ross.
The Barstool Sports founder went after the online personality after the two exchanged heated texts over the antisemitic scandal surrounding the Rams’ Puka Nacua.
“I thought the way he set up Puka Nacua, by telling him to do that dance, was a total a–hole move by him,” Portnoy told the Daily Mail. “Anybody with a brain knew that would cause a controversy. For what? So Adin could get a couple clicks?”
On Wednesday, Ross shared images of the messages, which went viral on social media after Ross pushed the star wide receiver to celebrate a touchdown in a way based on a Jewish stereotype. Nacua later apologized, saying he did not know about the reference, which came after the Bondi Beach shooting that saw 15 people killed in a targeted attack during a Hanukkah celebration.
Barstool founder and CEO Dave Portnoy is seen before the Florida Atlantic Owls and Loyola (Il) Ramblers game in the Barstool Invitational at Wintrust Arena on November 8, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. Getty Images
In his initial text to Ross, Portnoy said, “Why’d you tell Puka to do that dance? Seems like an a–hole dumb thing to do.”
Ross replied, saying it was “a joke” that shouldn’t have been taken “too seriously.”
“Yeah telling a dude to do an antisemitic [touchdown] dance 5 seconds after 15 people get murdered in Australia surely wouldn’t be taken too seriously,” Portnoy replied. “Idiotic thing to do. You play both sides.”
Ross went on to say, “No. We need to stop playing this victim card and be consistent with all sides, races, religion. I’m Jewish just like you I celebrate Hannukah, Shabbat. There aren’t just Jewish ppl that live in this world.”
Portnoy quickly shot back. “You’re a Jew who wants the cool kids to seem like he’s a cool Jew. Suck Kanye’s d–k,” he said. “Tell puka to do that dance. If you don’t think there is a difference between how Jews are being treated in the world vs 2 years ago you’re an idiot.”
“That’s the problem. We can’t take this s–t too seriously,” Ross then said. “Our people are being hated. You need to add comedic light to show ppl we can take jokes. Not all Jews are bad but people like you give us a bad rep. I’m sorry you feel that way. Id love to hear your full opinion but we need to add light not play the victim card. I’m a proud Jew, to stop antisemitism we need to add comedic light. Not play the victim here.”
During a livestream earlier in the month, Ross encouraged Rams’ player Puka Nacau (right) to perform a touchdown dance that included an offensive Jewish stereotype. Dec 2025. YouTube
Mourners place flowers at a memorial at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. MICK TSIKAS/EPA/Shutterstock
Portnoy went on to argue that there is a time and place for comedic remarks following a tragedy, but the livestream with Nacua was not the answer.
Nacua previously agreed on a livestream with Ross to spin the ball, flex and then rub his hands together. It also involved the 24-year-old bending over and rubbing his palms together, which many have called antisemitic.
A day after the livestream, Nacua apologized by saying, “I do not stand for any form of racism, bigotry or hate of another group of people.”
“When I appeared the other day on a social media livestream,” Nacua added, “it was suggested to me to perform a specific movement as part of my next touchdown celebration. At the time, I had no idea this act was antisemitic in nature and perpetuated harmful stereotypes against Jewish people.”
The NFL and the Rams, who are set to play the Falcons on Monday, also commented on the situation, stating there is “no place in this world for Antisemitism.”
Source: “AOL General News”
