In late October, country music star Zach Bryan and Barstool Sports’ Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia ended their year-long relationship, sparking a public spectacle that captured the attention of fans, followers, and the media alike.

What seemed like a picture-perfect romance quickly turned into a messy breakup when Bryan went public with the news on Instagram. He explained that their breakup was due to personal struggles and that both of them would appreciate privacy as they navigated this challenging chapter of their lives. However, LaPaglia was unaware that this post was going to be made, and felt "blindsided."

LaPaglia, who is known for her unfiltered personality, immediately posted an emotional response that both shocked and resonated with her followers.

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"And eventually you’ll find that life goes on, even if you don’t want it to. The days will pass and the world will move while you ask it to stop. You’ll believe life is cruel for continuing on while your feet are stuck. You’ll find people and moments to blame for your concrete feet. Then there will come a morning when you wake and realize things go on, life isn’t cruel. Your feet are.”

She also released a YouTube video posting about how blindsided she was by his post, breaking down the situation:

Her words spoke to a deep sense of loss and disillusionment, drawing comparisons between the emotions of heartbreak and the world continuing to turn despite personal grief. Fans immediately rallied around her emotional openness, with many identifying with the struggle of feeling frozen in the wake of a breakup.

Barstool Drama: Dave Portnoy and Josh Richards Fire Back

While LaPaglia processed her feelings in private, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy and podcast co-host for BFFs Josh Richards were quick to jump into the drama, publicly criticizing Bryan in a scathing fashion. Portnoy, known for his provocative stance, wasted no time in denouncing Bryan. He took to social media to dub the country singer “Lyin' Zach Bryan,” accusing him of dishonesty in his relationship with LaPaglia.

The feud took a more creative turn when Portnoy and Richards released a diss track titled “Smallest Man.” This rap was not only a public attack on Bryan’s character, but also an attempt to ridicule his persona in the country music world. Richards, with his characteristic blend of humor and sharp words, called Bryan out in the opening lines:

“Tinder, Bumble, Raya, knew you was a liar. / You’re a d—bag, you just made a new rival / Pretty soon you going to need a revival.”

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Richards' line about Bryan using dating apps like Tinder and Raya to quickly rebound from his breakup with LaPaglia was one of many jabs in the track. The song also referenced Bryan’s well-known track “Revival,” turning the title into a clever nod to the idea that Bryan might need his own personal “revival” after this public scandal.

Portnoy's verse was just as savage, mocking Bryan’s past mistakes with biting lines like:

“You f—ed up. / It’s about to get gory / Go post it on your Instagram Story.”

Diss Track Put On Pause

Zach Bryan's Response: Music As A Weapon

Rather than responding to the insults directly, Bryan used his art to address the fallout. After the diss track’s initial release, Bryan dropped “This World’s A Giant,” a reflective and deeply personal song that many fans believe was inspired by his recent breakup with LaPaglia.

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The song opens with lyrics that capture a feeling of emotional detachment and confusion:

"I’m floating on a sea of nothing / I’m trying to make sense of it all / All the worlds around me, they keep turning / But they don’t help me stand tall.”

Bryan’s lyrics paint a vivid picture of a man adrift in a sea of his emotions, struggling to make sense of a world that continues moving forward while he remains stuck in place. The reference to being unable to “stand tall” hints at a loss of confidence, a shared experience in the wake of supposed heartbreak.

In the chorus, Bryan delves deeper into the sense of inner turmoil:

“This world’s a giant, it’s hard to see / All the things you did, they don’t come for free / I’m lost in the static, can’t find my way / And the things I’ve said, they don’t go away.”

The line “lost in the static” evokes the overwhelming noise of life, particularly the noise that comes from being a public figure. In Bryan’s case, the attention surrounding his breakup and the feud with Barstool’s Portnoy and Richards would only add to the “static” he references. The song implies that while he is grappling with his personal feelings, his past actions—both public and private—are haunting him, lingering in his mind and possibly impacting his sense of self.

What stands out in this track is Bryan’s ability to channel pain into creativity. Rather than escalate the conflict, Bryan took the time to explore the internal effects of his breakup, offering listeners a window into his emotional landscape. Fans who have followed Bryan's career know that his music often acts as a reflection of his personal experiences, and “This World’s A Giant” is no different. It’s a cathartic release for the singer, allowing him to process his emotions while continuing to engage with the world through his art.

Brianna LaPaglia’s Cake Jabs: A Sweet but Sharp Response

While Bryan poured his heart into music, LaPaglia took a more playful yet pointed approach to the aftermath of their breakup. On her Instagram stories on November 6, she posted pictures of decorated cakes that referenced Bryan’s past relationships, along with one cake bearing the diss track title. One cake in particular, which featured the names of women Bryan have dated or been married to before, captured the public’s attention. LaPaglia’s choice to publicly display the cakes with such pointed, passive-aggressive humor was a clever way of calling out Bryan without directly engaging in the online drama herself.

@briannalapaglia on Instagram.

Fans Divided: Where Do They Go from Here?

With the drama continuing to unfold across social media, it remains to be seen whether Bryan and LaPaglia will respond further. Bryan’s music, as seen in “This World’s A Giant,” offers fans insight into his inner world as he deals with the emotional fallout of the breakup. Meanwhile, LaPaglia continues to post her updates, blending humor and candor as she navigates her public persona in the wake of the drama.

Many fans speculated that Bryan's new song "This World's a Giant" would be a pointed diss track responding to Portnoy's recent viral song about his breakup and alleged character flaws. With Portnoy calling Bryan "immature" and "insecure," fans braced for a lyrical clapback. Still, the controversy has fueled intense backlash, with some fans now uncovering aspects of Bryan's past that seem to challenge his image, leaving many wondering if this scrutiny could affect his music career's momentum.

For now, fans are divided, but one thing is certain: this has become one of the most talked-about celebrity breakups in recent memory, with Barstool’s involvement adding an unexpected twist to the narrative. Some fans are still calling out the Barstool/Chickenfry side, stating on TikTok, "Bri knew all this and defended him. Now as soon as the cycle is repeated she cares," while others have made statements in her support, saying, "The big brother energy of Dave and Josh is everything us girls are looking for in life! Bri is a lucky girl!" 

What side are you on? Leave your Fan Of View in the comments below.

Photo Credit: @bffspod on Instagram.