Zach Bryan / Brianna Chickenfry Split Highlights Deeper Issues with NDAs

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Zach Bryan’s breakup with podcast personality Brianna Chickenfry (real name Brianna LaPaglia) has gone from a matter for the kind of gossip podcasts that Brianna is famous for participating in, to a matter that has touched on some serious underlying issues that affect the freedom of artists, and the safety of women and men in the entertainment industry, and in society at large.

On an episode of the BFFs Podcast (see below) with Josh Richards and Barstool Sports owner Dave Portnoy released Thursday evening (11-7), Brianna recounted how she experienced what she characterized as “emotional abuse” from Zach Bryan. This took shape in controlling who she hung out with and how she dressed, isolating her from friends and family, while the relationship regularly descending into fights over otherwise inane matters.

LaPaglia claimed that the first four months of the relationship were fine, though Zach started dropping “love bombs” very early on, and got a tattoo of her on his arm less than a week after they were together—things she now characterizes as red flags. As the relationship went on, things escalated as their lives became more entangled after Bryan bought them a house in New Hampshire “for their family.”

One incident allegedly occurred in New York when LaPaglia was singing a line from Morgan Wallen’s song “Last Night” in passing. Bryan snapped at her that she shouldn’t be singing another man’s song in his house. Bryan also was allegedly angry that she often listened to Noah Kahan. LaPaglia also revealed that she covered for Zach Bryan when he was supposed to perform as a special guest at a Noah Kahan concert, but canceled last minute. She also claimed Bryan offered her twice the money Barstool Sports was paying her as a podcaster to not work at all.

The most disturbing account from LaPaglia happened during a birthday party with her friends and family at the house that Zach Bryan purchased for them in New Hampshire. Zach flew in from tour to attend the party and began yelling at everyone, had to be physically restrained by LaPaglia’s aunt, and apparently broke some glass in the incident.

It’s important to stress that despite the seriousness of some of the accusations from LaPaglia, Zach Bryan has not been accused of being physically violent or striking anyone at this point, hasn’t been accused of sexual abuse, or accused of anything illegal. Much of the behavior LaPaglia claims Bryan participated in could be characterized as controlling, at times manipulative and isolating, as well as other typical “douchebag” behavior from someone insecure with dating someone who is also famous.

It’s also fair to point out that we only have one side of the story, and that LaPaglia is only recounting the bad parts of the relationship. Zach Bryan so far has not addressed the accusations publicly, though he has said in indirect statements since the breakup that he’s made “mistakes” and is “not perfect.” Brianna did say in her initial statement about the breakup that she “saw the good” in Zach Bryan, and that is why she stayed with him for so long despite the alleged emotional abuse.

But perhaps most importantly to the bigger picture, when it became evident that LaPaglia was planning to speak publicly about her experience with Zach Bryan, lawyers for Bryan allegedly reached out to the social star to attempt to buy her silence. According to LaPaglia, she was offered escalating sums of money to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), eventually turning down a $12 million dollar offer.

The accusations against Zach Bryan certainly will not be helpful to his public image. There is a reason Zach Bryan’s team was willing to pay $12 million to keep Brianna Chickenfry silent. But often in the music business, entertainment, and beyond, these non-disclosure agreements shield abusers and perpetrators of bad behavior. Though there is certainly an element of restitution with the financial windfall for those who sign them, it also shields the public and potential future victims from critically important information.

Most major labels, music industry employers, booking agents, managers, and others are now required to sign non-disclosure agreements as a requirement of employment or partnership. One of the reasons Brianna says that she turned down the money is because unlike Zach Bryan’s previous lovers who allegedly went through similar experiences, she is in a position to. “I’m going to be taken care of for life because I’m me,” she said.

Saving Country Music is currently and has previously investigated multiple incidents involving the alleged sexual abuse of performers in country music, but cannot verify the information because the alleged victims signed NDAs, with the alleged perpetrators still engaging in the behavior. Other investigations into business owners and promoters who required their employees and associates to sign NDAs have also been undermined, resulting in the furthering of damaging behavior to the country music community.


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The other sticky legal issue stemming from the Zach Bryan/Brianna Chickenfry breakup comes from the continued battle over a diss track that was released against Zach Bryan. What looked like it might have been a simple copyright infringement issue was actually part of the unfolding legal battle between Bryan, LaPaglia, and Barstool Sports personalities Dave Portnoy and Josh Richards.

On Tuesday evening (11-5), Portnoy and Richards released a song and video called “Smallest Man.” It was shortly taken down after copyright claims by the distribution company for Zach Bryan’s Belting Bronco Records, Warner Music Group.

Dave Portnoy and Josh Richards initially believed the copyright claim was due to using part of a parody of a Zach Bryan song at the end of the diss track. So they took the disputed part out of the song and re-uploaded it, only to have it taken down again.

It turns out that Josh Richards released a song called “Still Softish” through Warner Music Group in March of 2020, and signed a contract with the label to do so. Because of that contract, Warner basically owns all of the music Josh Richards now releases, including the satirical Zach Bryan diss track. Similar to the proliferation of NDAs that shield abusers and allow them to perpetrate disturbing behavior over and over again with no real consequences, these intrusive major label contracts can often throttle the 1st Amendment rights of creators in perpetuity.

For his part, Dave Portnoy says he will continue to try and upload a version of the diss track, record new versions of it without Josh Richards, or record other diss tracks until something remains up. The Barstool Sports “El Presidente” is famous due in part to public spats similar to his current one with Zach Bryan where Portnoy turns public beefs into massive pageviews by trolling people and getting the better of them.

The entire episode is undoubtedly a public relations nightmare for the Zach Bryan camp, and one they should have seen coming when it involved Dave Portnoy. The attempted takedown of the diss track, and the attempted NDA signing has resulted in a “Streisand Effect” in what otherwise should have been a personal matter.

For the record, it is extremely common these days for celebrities at many levels to require love interests and employees to sign NDAs before having any interactions with them. It’s been said for years that Taylor Swift won’t even go on a date with someone without having them sign an NDA due to these very issues. That is why you’ve also never seen in-depth tell alls about people like Taylor Swift. It’s also fair to point out that Dave Portnoy himself has been accused of sexual misconduct.

For Zach Bryan’s part, he’s released two separate songs in the last 48 hours, one called “This World’s a Giant,” and another called “High Road,” certainly in part to attempt to deflect attention from the Brianna Chickenfry revelations. Similar to what some have said in passing about Taylor Swift, Zach Bryan comes across as an emotionally “messy” person. This is often a personality trait of some of the most compelling songwriters.

This is not a #metoo level event for Zach Bryan. But the way the situation was handled, the revelations from the ex-girlfriend and the details of the NDA create a double shot of incriminating news for Bryan, and both of which could have been avoided by the young star being more together in his affairs.

Though the accusations made by Brianna LaPaglia are troubling, what’s even more troubling is the environment of NDAs and restrictive major label contracts that create a reality where powerful people can hold others under their thumb, sometimes getting away with illegal behavior. If nothing else, Brianna LaPaglia forgoing the big payout sets a precedent that more women and men should follow so that patterns of behavior can be broken as opposed to perpetrated infinitely in the shadow of legally-binding servitude.

“I just can’t wait to move forward and heal from this, and just be a voice for women who go through the same things. Because it’s unfair,” Brianna LaPaglia says. “I don’t want your money, bro.”

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