It Was Heartbreaking To Hear How Mentally Abusive Zach Bryan Was Towards Brianna On Last Night's BFF's Podcast - A Full Breakdown

Before you race to the comments to yell "nobody cares about this stuff", FYI there were 240,000 people logged on watching this live last night when it aired. It's been a huge story on every media outlet all week, and since it involves major personalities at Barstool Sports, we are obviously going to cover it. I have 3 sports blogs coming after this. You will live I promise.

Now boy oh boy! What a roller coaster ride listening to Brianna, Dave, and Josh talk about what the last year has been like for Bri last night on their BFF's podcast.If you thought Zach's and Brianna's split was just another celeb breakup, you’re in for a shock. Turns out, behind the Instagram highlights and red carpet appearances was a toxic rollercoaster of manipulation, jealousy, and flat out insanity.

As somebody who is just learning about all of this as everything unfolds because I had no idea how Bri and Zach Bryan met, started dating, or anything else. I knew they were a couple, and that Bri had put a ton of work shit on hold, and passed up a lot of opportunities so that she could follow Zach around on tour. After hearing this, now we know why. 

But before I get into what was sdiscussed on the podcast, I have to talk about one of the biggest red flags I have ever heard of in my life that I became aware of tonight. 

Shortly after meeting Brianna backstage at one of his shows, Zach Bryan invited her to drive with him back home from Philly to Oklahoma? 

That is a 1,279 mile, 18 hour and 20 minute drive (with no stops). Would you fuckin do that with your wife or girlfriend? Nevermind a girl you literally just met? 

I don't care who it is asking you that. That is psychotic behavior. 

Back to the blog...

What started as a "picture-perfect" romance has now turned into a public relations nightmare for Zach, thanks to Brianna’s explosive revelations about their very toxic relationship. As it turns out, the only thing more twisted than a country song about heartbreak is the guy singing it.

Brianna didn’t hold back when she spilled the tea on the BFFs podcast last night. And it’s safe to say the man behind the microphone isn’t exactly the charming troubadour he pretends to be. 

According to Brianna, Zach’s jealousy and need for control started early. He couldn’t handle her success at Barstool- because heaven forbid someone else in the room has a personality. He criticized her friends, behind their backs and to their faces. He tried to isolate her from everyone who cared about her, and even went so far as to offer her double her salary if she quit Barstool to follow him on tour.

Imagine thinking you can buy someone’s life out from under them like you’re shopping on Amazon?

He micromanaged her social media and even tried dictating her wardrobe choices. One of the most humiliating moments? He lost his mind over a dress she wore to the Golden Globes. Imagine being so insecure that you’re triggered by a dress. It’s giving high school boyfriend vibes, but with a multimillion-dollar record deal.

For context, here was the dress Zach told Bri he was so disgusted by, and couldn't be with a girl who represented herself in this way. 

Kevin Winter/GA. Getty Images.

Imagine dating a dude who’s more obsessed with your outfit than the people doing interviews on the red carpet?

Zach tried to convince Brianna that her friends were dragging her down, criticizing them like he was their father, then telling Bri not to hang out with them anymore. Really shitty, controlling stuff. 

The big story of the whole thing was when Bri dropped this bombshell. 

Advertisement

One of the my favorite parts of this story, not featured in the social media clip, was how Zach's lawyers tried to intimidate Bri, and then Dave, by making empty threats and stalling, and when Dave called their bluff and demanded they wire the money, they balked and then accused him of extortion. I think one of the most dangerous things that ever happened was Dave getting rich. Now these people who thought they were powerful before just because they had money, or had big money backing them literally have nothing for leverage whatsoever over Dave. It's a level playing field and he never loses at even strength. 

As for Bri, instead of taking the hush money and fading away, she chose her own peace and sanity over a fat check. And in doing so, she’s shown everyone that emotional abuse doesn’t just happen behind closed doors, it can happen to anyone, even those in the spotlight. 

Another highlight mentioned how this Zach guy was so insecure, he banned Brianna from listening to other male artists. Let me repeat that, he had a meltdown over her singing along to Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night”, one morning when she walked up the stairs singing it to herself, and he overheard. As Bri told it, he exploded on her, exclaiming, "how can you walk around in my house, under my roof, singing another man's song?". Oh, the disrespect Zach! The horror! Bri said he dragged that one out and didn't speak to her for a week. (Sidebar, stonewalling = big female energy) 

We found out that Zach thinks everybody who works at, follows, or is affiliated with Barstool is a "r*tard", And that Dave is the biggest one. (Bri had multiple screenshots to prove it). More odd behavior from a guy who recognized Bri when he met her for "being from Barstool", and then inviting Dave and telling him he was "honored" to have him come out to sing "Revival" with him at his Gillette Stadium show this summer.

Bri also finally admitted what we all suspected this summer- that Zach got too fucked up and bailed on Noah Kahan last minute at his Fenway Park show. Bri originally took the heat for Zach, posting on HER social media that Zach had had a family emergency and that was why he couldn't make the show. 

This guy is such a headcase that after the whole debacle and rumors were swirling that he had a serious drinking problem, this picture appeared. Knowing what we know now about what happened in this situation, and what a pyscopath he is, can you just imagine the demand he must have gave Kahan to do a facetime with him, and then screen shot himself on facetime with Zach, and then post it to his instagram so everybody could see they were still "cool"?

Advertisement

The final nail in the coffin of this whole thing was what Dave asked Bri to bring up at the end. 

The story she told came during her birthday party, where Zach pulled his best impression of a drunk uncle at a family BBQ, only a whole lot meaner and with camera phones rolling. He rented her a house in New Hampshire for her birthday, then guilt-tripped her the entire week before her actual birthday. He repeatedly complained he couldn’t believe he had to leave his tour to come to New Hampshire for her birthday. She repeatedly told him not to because she didn’t want to be such an inconvenience. But Bryan showed up, and that night, after drinking around a campfire he verbally attacked her friends, proving he’s not just insecure, but a true blue asshole. It was the kind of outburst that makes you cringe and question how the whole thing ever got that far. That night, Bri saw the real Zach: an insecure, controlling man who couldn’t handle a girl who wouldn’t kowtow to his gaslighting, and constantly beg for his approval. 

Meanwhile, Zach Bryan is now left holding the bag. He tried to control the narrative, like really control it, but it’s blown up in his face. His reputation is in shambles. The dude went from beloved country star who came out of nowhere, and took over country music by storm with his "aww shucks" schtick, and heartfelt, poetic songwriting, to the guy who couldn’t keep his own mess under wraps. Instead of riding high on his hit songs, he’s now playing damage control while the internet does what it does best, and roasts him to a crisp.

p.s. - for anybody who didn't listen, but still wants to comment on Bri not taking the money to keep her mouth shut, she said multiple times she was only speaking about her own personal experiences and interactions with the guy. Meaning shit she was involved with with him, and shit she was subjected to. Which she is totally and unequivocally in the right to do. She went out of her way several times to say she wouldn't speak publicly about Zach's personal issues or experiences, which you have to respect. Also, if you think she's making up the dollar amount, then you are also calling Dave a liar because he stepped in and was involved with the attorneys himself and dealing with them as he described.

p.p.s. - no offense to my short kings out there, but why is it almost always little guys like this you hear acting like this?