Dave Portnoy realized he wasn’t as good friends with Tom Brady as he thought after failing to score an invite to his star-studded roast.
“I thought I was a little bit bigger star than I was. Obviously, I overestimated myself,” Portnoy said on Barstool Sports’ “BFFs” podcast. “Everyone under the sun participated in that event. There was no one saying, ‘Hey, we’re doing it.’
“Do you know how I saw it?” Portnoy asked. “I looked for a movie on Netflix and watched it straight away. I never expected something like this to come out.”
Portnoy’s absence was notable as UFC president Dana White was in attendance and said he had flown in for the occasion, while Bill Simmons also chose not to attend the event, although he was invited. He said he did.
Meanwhile, Portnoy’s podcasting co-hosts Josh Richards and Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia were also invited to the event, and at least LaPaglia attended.
Barstool personalities John Feitelberg, known as Fates, and Grace O’Malley also attended the event.
“Why would Netflix invite you in my place? I basically have no ill will towards anyone in the world,” Portnoy exclaimed. “No one told me it was outrageous.
“This is strange because apparently, except for me and the fact that half my company was there and invited, I went to prison with him. I met him. We went to parties sometimes. Our whole company was based on the Patriots’ reign. When he came back with Tampa Bay and a lot of other things, I was there. But other than that it was great.
“Brady, Belichick, Portnoy, it’s over.”
Portnoy has a long history as a Patriots fan and has a checkered history with the NFL.
During the controversial Deflategate investigation, Portnoy and some of his colleagues protested at NFL headquarters.
Portnoy was subsequently ruled out of Super Bowl III in 2019, where the Patriots defeated the Rams 13-3.
At the roast, Brady appeared to acknowledge his role in Deflategate and mocked Roger Goodell, who spent $20 million on the investigation.
“I wish they would have given me $20 million and just said I did it,” Brady said.
This no-holds-barred event showcased celebrity power without Portnoy, and ended up being a huge success for Netflix. Netflix produced the show live and invited many familiar faces to the event.
