A hashtag saying “Free Dave Portnoy” trended on Twitter Friday after the Twitter account for Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy was suspended.
Portnoy has 2.5 million followers on the platform and is an influential figure. Here is how his account looked when it was suspended:
#FreeDavePortnoy pic.twitter.com/HdeQSdo0W8
— Viva La Stool (@VivaLaStool) June 18, 2021
There was some speculation that a Twitter post led to the issue:
People are saying this is what did him in can u confirm or deny pic.twitter.com/BYLrSI9UWX
— Drew (@_DrewWheeler) June 19, 2021
There was also speculation that there was some sort of inside publicity stunt after a photo of Portnoy and Twitter founder Jack Dorsey was shared.
#FreePortnoy @jack pic.twitter.com/yoSqfcOCr9
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) June 19, 2021
An hour or so after the suspension, Portnoy’s Twitter feed started to repopulate. Portnoy also announced that he was “back.”
I’m back. #freeportnoy pic.twitter.com/EeY0hnelrO
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) June 19, 2021
Maybe there really was nothing going on at all.
