A wave of controversy erupted in Starkville, Mississippi, after a video surfaced showing a young man confronting Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy with a hateful outburst. The incident, captured outside a local pizzeria during a routine pizza review, quickly ignited a firestorm online and led to criminal charges.
Patrick McClintock, a 20-year-old former Mississippi State University student, was identified as the individual allegedly shouting antisemitic slurs at Portnoy on November 7th. The video showed McClintock yelling obscenities and directing hateful language towards Portnoy, who is Jewish, while also throwing coins in his direction.
The Starkville Police Department swiftly launched an investigation following the viral spread of the video. Their statement emphasized the importance of public safety and clarified that while offensive speech is generally protected, actions that disrupt public order or incite violence would not be tolerated.
McClintock was subsequently charged with misdemeanor disturbing the peace and briefly detained before being released. The police department underscored their commitment to ensuring a safe and respectful environment for all members of the community.
In the wake of the charges, a fundraising campaign emerged online, titled “DEFEND PATRICK MCCLINTOCK.” The campaign quickly gained traction, amassing over $36,000 in donations as of Thursday afternoon.
The fundraiser framed McClintock as a “patriot” unjustly punished for expressing his views, characterizing the charges as stemming from “mean words.” This narrative fueled a significant outpouring of support from certain online communities.
During the confrontation, Portnoy, known for his popular “One Bite” pizza reviews, directly addressed McClintock, challenging him to approach the camera. McClintock responded with further hostile remarks, urging Portnoy to leave Starkville before others intervened.
Adding another layer to the unfolding events, McClintock voluntarily withdrew from Mississippi State University on Monday, the institution confirmed. This decision came shortly after the charges were filed and the video gained widespread attention.
