Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has rescinded his offer of a "teachable moment" to one of the individuals allegedly involved in the display of an antisemitic sign at one of the company’s affiliated bars. The controversial incident, which involved a sign reading "f— the Jews," ignited widespread outrage after a video of it circulated across social media platforms over the weekend.
Portnoy initially proposed sending the individuals responsible for the sign to Auschwitz, the notorious Nazi concentration camp in Poland, with the aim of educating them about the horrors of the Holocaust and the historical persecution of Jews. He envisioned the trip as a transformative experience that would foster understanding and promote tolerance.
However, Portnoy’s plans took an unexpected turn after he engaged in conversations with two of the men implicated in the incident. According to Portnoy, both individuals initially "took accountability" for their actions. This initial acceptance of responsibility appeared to pave the way for Portnoy’s proposed educational excursion.
The situation became further complicated when one of the men, identified as Mo Kahn, posted a lengthy statement on his Instagram account. In the statement, Kahn claimed to have had no involvement in creating or displaying the antisemitic sign. He asserted that he merely "documented what took place as a citizen journalist."
Kahn’s statement also highlighted the personal repercussions he had faced since the video went viral. He stated that he had "faced serious threats to my safety, which has been overwhelming." Additionally, Kahn professed his abhorrence of hate in all its forms and expressed a desire for open dialogue to address the "deeper realities of the world we live in." He concluded by expressing hope that he could contribute to creating a safer space for everyone.
Portnoy, upon seeing Kahn’s statement, contacted him directly. During their conversation, Kahn reportedly told Portnoy that he felt pressured to admit involvement in the incident, despite claiming to have had no actual part in it.
Portnoy recounted his response to Kahn, stating, "I’m like, ‘Hey, a–hole, you f—ing uploaded this to Instagram…I didn’t put your f—ing name out there. Other people got it because you uploaded it to Instagram. You had a good laugh about it.’"
Kahn allegedly denied these accusations, claiming, "No, it wasn’t me, I would never do that."
Portnoy then confronted Kahn with additional information he had received, stating, "Well, I’m getting a million DMs about you, including another antisemitic joke like six months ago. Like, how do you explain that one if you’re not ever doing anything like that?"
Kahn reportedly refused to explain the other alleged antisemitic social media post, instead suggesting that "maybe my parents can explain that."
This response left Portnoy frustrated and disillusioned. He expressed his disappointment, stating, "I’m like trying to make this a teachable moment, throw a lifeline to a kid, and he’s like, ‘Well, I already got suspended from Temple’ because you got a ‘f— the Jews’ sign at a bar and posted it on social media…What don’t you get about that? Maybe if you learn a life lesson. Maybe if people watch you go to Poland and seem like you’ve changed, this gets behind you."
As a result of Kahn’s denial and subsequent behavior, Portnoy decided to withdraw his offer to send him to Auschwitz. He stated, "F—, I’m sorry, man. I tried to throw you a lifeline and make something out of this, and now you’re a ‘citizen journalist’? You’ve had nothing to do with it? Buddy, you’ve uploaded a video with a sign ‘f— the Jews,’ everyone laughed."
Fox News Digital reportedly reached out to Kahn via social media for comment, but he did not respond. Some of his social media posts have since been deleted.
The Philadelphia Police Department has confirmed that they are gathering information about the incident.
This controversy highlights the complexities of addressing antisemitism and hate speech in the digital age. It also raises questions about the responsibility of individuals in documenting and sharing potentially harmful content on social media platforms. Portnoy’s initial offer, while unconventional, sparked a debate about the effectiveness of education and reconciliation in combating prejudice. His subsequent withdrawal of the offer underscores the challenges of engaging with individuals who deny responsibility for their actions or fail to demonstrate a genuine commitment to change.
