Dave Portnoy shut down Sofia Franklyn’s implication in her new memoir, “Daddy Issues,” that he hooked up with Alex Cooper.
While discussing the tell-all on “The Toast” podcast Wednesday, the Barstool Sports creator lashed out at Franklyn, 34, for claiming he “was, like, having sex with Alex.”
Co-hosts Jackie Oshry and Claudia Oshry disputed this characterization of the book, clarifying Franklyn “didn’t say that” directly but implied it.
Claudia, 32, explained, “Her reasoning for saying that was when they go to your apartment for a rooftop meeting, she has this sense Alex has been there before.”
Portnoy, 49, clapped back, insisting, “She had not [been to my apartment before]. She knows that. Like, she knows that! The first time either of them were in my apartment was the rooftop meeting.”
Elsewhere in the episode, he was asked directly whether they had ever “kissed or made out” and doubled down.
“No,” he said. “We don’t even like each other.”
In the passage in question, Franklyn told readers, “I expect Alex to make a joke about [his apartment], but she’s uncharacteristically awkward and doesn’t say a thing. Something gives me the vibe she’s been here before.
“‘Jesus Christ, did they f–k or something?”’ she continued. “Ascending to Dave’s rooftop, he makes a comment to Alex like she knows her way around, confirming my suspicion.”
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Cooper and Franklyn’s reps did not immediately respond to Page Six’s requests for comment.
Page Six Hollywood broke the news last week that Franklyn’s “Daddy Issues” implied a fling between her former boss and “Call Her Daddy” co-host.
Sources told us Cooper, 32, was in “full-on panic mode” over the book’s release.
The media mogul has yet to react to her former friend’s memoir, instead continuing to promote podcast episodes.
Portnoy, meanwhile, repeatedly shared his “hatred” of Franklyn during his chat with the Oshry sisters — which, they pointed out, he initiated by reaching out to them for an interview.
He accused her of previously “directing” Business Insider to a woman who made sexual assault allegations against him in a 2021 investigative report.
At the time, multiple women accused Portnoy of performing violent sexual acts mid-intercourse and filming some of them, all of which he has denied and described as consensual encounters.
He sued the outlet for defamation in February 2022, with the lawsuit dismissed nine months later.
Portnoy did, however, side with Franklyn during the episode in terms of Cooper naming her network Unwell after a joke Franklyn coined.
“That was stupid by Alex. I don’t know why she did that,” he said. “It is a great name. But I think it was Sofia’s joke.
“I don’t think anybody disputes that,” Portnoy added. “That was a misstep by [Cooper], I think.”
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.
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