Renowned country music artist Zach Bryan is currently facing serious allegations from his former girlfriend, Barstool Sports podcast co-host and popular internet figure Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia. These claims have raised eyebrows and sparked significant media attention, highlighting issues surrounding emotional abuse and the complexities of relationships in the spotlight.

On the November 8 episode of the BFFs Podcast, co-hosted by LaPaglia alongside Dave Portnoy and Josh Richards, she unleashed a series of explosive allegations against Bryan. These claims include serious accusations of emotional abuse throughout their relationship. LaPaglia revealed that she was offered a staggering $12 million along with a luxurious apartment in New York City to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) concerning the details of their relationship, an offer she adamantly declined.

Reflecting on her experiences, LaPaglia stated, “The last year of my life has been the hardest year I’ve ever faced, grappling with the emotional turmoil inflicted by this individual.” She continued to express her ongoing fear, saying, “I’m still scared right now because I’m scared of him. The trauma has rewired my brain, and I’m terrified of provoking his anger.” This highlights the profound impact that such experiences can have on a person’s mental health and well-being.

LaPaglia recounted, “There was always another excuse for his poor treatment towards me, and I often found myself crying myself to sleep, confused by his outbursts.” She described a recurring pattern in their relationship where Bryan would apologize the next morning, promising to change and expressing how much he needed her in his life. This cycle of abuse and reconciliation can be damaging, leaving deep emotional scars that often linger long after the relationship ends.

LaPaglia also alleged that Bryan coerced his former girlfriends into signing NDAs to silence them about their experiences. She claimed, “He manipulated the women before me, convincing them they had no choice but to accept money and relinquish their right to share their stories.” This tactic of silencing victims is often employed by those in power to maintain control and avoid accountability.

Following their breakup, LaPaglia revealed that she was approached by Bryan’s representatives with a substantial financial offer intended to ensure her silence about their relationship.

“I was offered a significant amount of money, structured as a large lump sum combined with various options,” she explained. “Essentially, I would have received this financial compensation over three years, but it came with a hefty price: I would have had to sign away my experiences and everything that defines me to this person, essentially allowing them to monitor my life.”

LaPaglia firmly rejected the offer, asserting, “I did not accept any money. I refuse to accept any money. I believe that accepting such an offer would be beneath me. You cannot pay off individuals you’ve harmed to keep your secrets safe. The very act of offering millions of dollars to conceal what was supposedly a beautiful relationship speaks volumes about the nature of that relationship itself.”

“This isn’t about creating drama for me,” she clarified. “My aim is to support anyone else who has endured emotional abuse and for those currently experiencing such situations. I want to reach out to individuals who may feel they lack a support system, something I was fortunate enough to have during this challenging time.”

LaPaglia shared specific incidents from their relationship, including a notable experience at the Golden Globes. She claimed that Bryan “ruined” her experience due to his disapproval of her dress choice. “That was incredibly frustrating. It was the first instance where he tried to control how I presented myself,” she recalled. “When I attended the Golden Globes, I shared a series of photos, and he was unhappy with my outfit.”

“He expressed that he didn’t want to date someone who presents themselves in that manner. After the event, he unfollowed me on social media and cut ties with everyone. I flew home immediately after the Golden Globes, feeling as though he had tarnished my special night,” LaPaglia continued, emphasizing the emotional toll of such controlling behavior.

“Every positive moment I experienced, he found a way to undermine it,” she lamented. “He ruined my birthday celebration, sabotaged my tour experience, and turned the Golden Globes into a painful memory. Anything that brought me joy, he made sure to destroy.” This pattern of emotional manipulation can leave long-lasting scars on a person’s self-esteem and sense of identity.

LaPaglia also recounted an alarming incident on her birthday when Bryan allegedly lashed out at her friends after she had gone to sleep. “I looked outside to find my aunt attempting to manage Zach — there’s a recording of all of this that can never be released — where Zach stood up at the fire and began screaming at my friends.”

“He stood up and shouted at my friends, ‘You’re not going to amount to anything, you’re all [expletive] losers.’ The hostility was shocking, completely unprovoked… When Zach enters that rage, it’s uncontrollable,” she described, shedding light on the volatile nature of their relationship.

LaPaglia further alleged that Bryan had a history of damaging her property, specifically her phone. “Look at my phone, it’s smashed, and it has been from him. He has a habit of throwing it against walls,” she noted, illustrating the physical manifestations of emotional abuse and control that often accompany such behavior.

Moreover, she claimed that Bryan attempted to interfere with her professional ambitions. “He even offered to double my salary from Barstool Sports to convince me to quit,” she revealed. “He consistently framed it as, ‘You’re meant for greater things than this, you can achieve so much more than Barstool.’” This manipulation can prevent individuals from pursuing their career goals and reaching their full potential.

LaPaglia expressed feelings of isolation and confusion during their highly publicized relationship, which started in July 2023 and ended with Bryan confirming their split in October.

“I lost myself completely throughout this relationship,” she confessed. “I don’t even recognize the person I’ve become. I lost 15 pounds I didn’t need to lose during this time. Sleep became elusive, and I found myself cut off from my family, friends, and work.” The toll of emotional abuse can often manifest in severe physical and mental health issues, underscoring the need for awareness and support.

Following these allegations, Billboard reached out to Zach Bryan’s representatives for a statement, but no response has been provided as of yet.

This incident comes in the wake of co-hosts Dave Portnoy and Josh Richards releasing a diss track aimed at Zach Bryan. The track, which parodied Bryan and referenced the allegations, faced multiple attempts to have it removed from various platforms, highlighting the contentious atmosphere surrounding these revelations.

“We knew we had a hit on our hands from the moment we recorded it,” Richards stated during the podcast. Portnoy added, “We have a whiny Bryan and his cowardly PR team scrambling to delete [expletive] from the internet, but the track is still racking up millions of views.”

Portnoy claimed that Bryan’s team attempted to silence the diss track through legal avenues. “They’re trying to pressure Bri due to Josh and me,” he said. “We’re not involved in this. Either compensate her or stay quiet. I’m rapidly losing my patience.”

The diss track was eventually taken down from several platforms, allegedly at the request of Bryan’s team, raising questions about the effectiveness of crisis management strategies in the face of public scrutiny. “The lengths he’s willing to go to control the narrative speak volumes,” Portnoy remarked.

LaPaglia emphasized that sharing her experiences was crucial not only for her own healing but also for others in similar predicaments: “I chose not to accept the money because I want to send a clear message that countless individuals find themselves trapped in similar situations, believing they’ll never escape.”

She concluded, “I hope people can glean insights from my journey and understand why I became unrecognizable during our time together. However, I am reclaiming my identity, and I’m thrilled to be myself again. The era of living under someone else’s control is over.”

Just one day before these serious allegations surfaced, Bryan released his latest single, “This World’s a Giant,” accompanied by a heartfelt Instagram post. In it, he shared that he had returned to Oklahoma and expressed his intentions to take a break from touring in order to pursue a master’s degree in Paris.

“After being away from home for a year and a half, I made a late-night visit to my mother’s gravestone and came to a profound realization: just as in the past, she would never call me again,” he recounted, sharing poignant images of his late mother, Annette, along with moments spent with his bandmates.

Bryan continued, “I informed her that I’ve decided to quit touring because I’ve been accepted into a master’s program in Paris next year… I shared stories about my closest friends in New York and the nights we celebrated under the moonlight… [and] my excitement over being featured in The Rolling Stone.”

He expressed gratitude to his supporters, adding, “Thank you for listening to ‘This World’s a Giant’ last night, and a heartfelt thank you to everyone who genuinely loves and supports me; you’ve helped carry my burdens… I’m back home now and ready to support you through the challenges.”

You can watch the full episode here.