Authorities have charged a former Mississippi State University student with disturbing the peace after he allegedly yelled an anti-Semitic slur at Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy during a video shoot. The suspect, identified as 20-year-old Patrick McClintock, was seen on video shouting “Jews” outside a pizza shop in Starkville on November 7.
The Starkville Police began their investigation after a viral video showed a person making these remarks and reportedly throwing a coin at Portnoy outside a local mall. They issued a warrant for McClintock over the weekend.
On November 10, McClintock was officially charged with disturbing the peace—a misdemeanor that pertains to acts risking public disorder. After being processed, he was released.
Starkville Police stated, “Everyone has the right to feel safe and respected in our community,” emphasizing that while offensive words may sometimes be protected, behaviors posing threats won’t be tolerated. They pledged actions to ensure safety and security.
During the incident, Portnoy was filming a review of One Bite pizza. As he recorded, a man could be heard shouting anti-Semitic comments. Portnoy replied, asking why he wouldn’t come on camera, to which McClintock, appearing to glare, responded, “Get out of Starkville,” before bystanders and security intervened.
Portnoy later recounted, “He said, ‘You Jews,’ and threw it at me,” referring to the encounter in a video shared online. He noted the increasing visibility of anti-Semitism, stating he encounters hate “every day” and described a significant shift in such attitudes.
Following backlash, Mississippi State University confirmed that McClintock withdrew voluntarily from the institution.
In recent comments, Portnoy highlighted the alarming rise in anti-Semitic incidents across the country, indicating that people now confront him with open hatred more regularly than before. He acknowledged the responsibility he feels as a Jewish person to take a stand and be a figure of resilience against this behavior.
