Zach Bryan and Brianna Chickenfry. Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Brianna LaPaglia, a.k.a. Brianna Chickenfry, is spending time with loved ones — including her dog, Boston — after breaking up with Zach Bryan this week.
While she takes a break from social media, LaPaglia, 25, enlisted a representative to post an update to her Instagram Stories on Wednesday, October 23.
The Barstool Sports personality “is off socials but she gave me the green light for this,” the person wrote below a screenshot of a cheeky tweet from LaPaglia’s boss, Dave Portnoy, who dedicated a Taylor Swift lyric video — the song: “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived” — to her.
Meanwhile, the LaPaglia representative shared that “she is with friends and family” and will return for the October 30 episode of her “BFFS” podcast with Portnoy, 47, and Josh Richards.
Country superstar Zach Bryan and Barstool Sports’ podcaster Brianna LaPaglia — a.k.a. Brianna Chickenfry — had a hot and heavy relationship before splitting in fall 2024. The pair met in May 2023, when LaPaglia, a fan of Bryan, attended the Academy of Country Music Awards and snapped a picture with Bryan. That same month, the […]
“I’ve been screenshotting some of your kind words and sending them to her,” the message continued. “She loves you guys so much.”
Shortly afterward, two new “Boston updates” were posted on LaPaglia’s Stories: A video of Boston, the dog she got with Bryan, 28, during their relationship, looking out a car window and barking at a Halloween decoration, and a photo of her pet sitting for a portrait on a grassy lawn. “The girls are okay! And love you!” a caption read.
LaPaglia’s Instagram Story on October 23. Brianna LaPaglia/Instagram
On Tuesday, October 22, Bryan confirmed that he and LaPaglia had split after one year of dating.
“Addressing something: Brianna and me have broken up with eachother [SIC] and I respect and love her with every ounce of my heart,” the country singer shared in an Instagram Story statement. “She has loved me unconditionally for a very long time and for that I’ll always thank her.”
More details are coming to light regarding Zach Bryan and Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia’s unexpected breakup. “[Brianna] was blindsided by Zach being on dating apps and dating around while they had been in a committed relationship,” a source exclusively tells Us Weekly. “Someone sent her Zach’s Raya profile and girls were reaching out about him dating […]
He continued: “I’ve had an incredibly hard year personally and struggled through some pretty severe things. I thought it would be beneficial for both of us to go out different ways. I am not perfect and never will be.”
Bryan asked that his followers respect LaPaglia’s “privacy and space” as they weather the breakup.
“If you have it in your heart, mine too,” he continued. “With everything I am and to anyone I let down, I am sorry. I try my best in everything. I failed people that love me and mostly myself.”
Right after Bryan’s announcement, LaPaglia responded with a social media statement of her own.
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia made a name for herself online way before dating Zach Bryan. LaPaglia started working for Barstool Sports as an intern in 2020. Shortly after joining the company, they offered her a full-time role that came with her own podcast. The “PlanBri Uncut” brand was born when LaPaglia told listeners […]
“Hey guys I’m feeling really blindsided right now. Gonna hop off social media for a while and attempt to heal privately, when I’m ready I’ll be back and ready to talk,” she shared via Instagram Stories. “I love you guys so much thank you for all of your kind words. Remember you are so loved and everything’s always gonna be OK.”
Bryan and LaPaglia took their relationship public in July 2023, with the podcaster telling her listeners that it was a “fun” and “casual” romance. Fans started to speculate that the couple had parted ways after LaPaglia posted a cryptic handwritten note via Stories on Monday, October 21.
“And eventually you’ll find that life goes on, even if you don’t want it to,” her message said. “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.”
LaPaglia continued, “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. The world keeps on spinning in hopes of showing you that you can as well.”
