Zach Bryan’s ex claims the singer offered her $18 million to stay silent on break-up: ‘Blood money’
A country music star’s ex-girlfriend has come forward with claims he offered her millions in “blood money” to stay silent on their split.
Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia claimed Zach Bryan offered her $US12 million ($18 million) if she signed a nondisclosure agreement swearing to not talk about their relationship or break-up.
The internet personality made the bombshell revelation on Thursday’s episode of her BFFs podcast with co-hosts Dave Portnoy and Josh Richards.
During a solo segment of the episode, which was filmed last week, LaPaglia shared, “After everything was done, I was approached by [Bryan’s] team and I was offered a lot of money, a big lump sum of money and a few options.”
LaPaglia, 25, claimed she would’ve received “the money over the course of three years” in exchange for not publicly discussing her “experiences” or “everything” she was to Bryan.
“They would’ve been monitoring everything that I do,” she said. “I thought about it for a second and I think they tend to forget, I started to forget, that I was someone, I was established, I was successful, before [Bryan].”
The Barstool Sports personality continued, “I’m going to be someone, I’m going to be established [and] I’m going to be successful after him [too].”
“Maybe I’m not going to be selling out stadiums and f***ing making hundreds of millions of dollars,” she added, referring to the Pink Skies singer’s successful career.
“I’m all right where I’m at and I don’t want blood money. I don’t think you can pay people off that you hurt [and expect] for them to protect you … offering millions of dollars to this apparent beautiful relationship [and] keep it a secret, speaks volumes.”
“I did not accept any money. I will not accept any money. I think it’s beneath me. I think that it’s f***ed up,” LaPaglia continued.
Later in the episode, LaPaglia joined her podcast co-hosts to discuss the NDA during a segment filmed this week.
Portnoy shared that LaPaglia went “back and forth” on whether to take the money, which he confirmed to be a $US12 million payout.
“That’s life-changing money,” the Barstool Sports founder said. “One hour she’d be like, ‘I’m not taking it. F**k that. I’m not taking it.’ The next hour [she’d say], ‘Too much money, [I] have to take it. How can I pass up $12 million?’”
Portnoy, 47, admitted he even considered advising LaPaglia to take the money.
“It was a moral battle,” LaPaglia chimed in, explaining she called “everyone” to see if they had “the answer” for her.
“From the get-go, I was like … ‘F**k you, I don’t want your money,’ but then you look at my family, who obviously doesn’t have money and comes from nothing and they’re like, ‘Take the money.’”
LaPaglia said she ultimately knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if she took the money, especially after he allegedly emotionally abused her and she feared him.
The podcaster claimed Bryan’s team also offered to purchase her a house or New York City apartment.
Reps for Bryan weren’t immediately available to Page Six for comment.
In October, the Something in the Orange crooner took to his Instagram Story to share that he and LaPaglia had parted ways after one year of dating and “an incredibly hard year.”
Shortly after the announcement, LaPaglia addressed the split via her YouTube channel, saying she was “blindsided.“
This article originally appeared in Page Six and was reproduced with permission