Dave Portnoy, founder and owner of Barstool Sports, said the company would evaluate whether to fire employees who slandered Charlie Kirk "case by case," but did not rule out termination in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital.
Speaking at Barstool’s third annual Pizza Fest in New York City, Portnoy said the company has previously dismissed staff over insensitive comments and that expressions on social media can have consequences. "We did have someone in a Philly bar who said what I would say are insensitive comments, and we fired them right away," he told Fox. "People are going to express whatever they want, it’s a free country." He added, "Those expressions can have repercussions." Portnoy also condemned Kirk’s assassination on social media, writing that "it doesn’t matter what your opinion is of Charlie or his politics. If you don’t view this as one of the darkest days in American history, then you are part of the problem."
Portnoy’s comments come as a range of employers, government agencies and institutions have taken personnel actions after staff members posted remarks perceived as celebrating or mocking Kirk’s death. Professional sports, media organizations, financial firms and federal agencies suspended or fired employees amid public backlash and internal reviews.
The Carolina Panthers dismissed a communications staffer, Charlie Rock, after social media posts that questioned public reaction to Kirk’s death. Media outlets took action as well; one network removed a political analyst after comments linking rhetoric to violence. Nasdaq announced it had fired an employee for social media commentary that it said condoned or celebrated violence. The Pentagon suspended an Army colonel, Scott Stephens, after posts that celebrated the killing, and the Department of Homeland Security placed a FEMA data analyst, Gavin Sylvia, on administrative leave following social posts criticizing the White House flag order.
Local incidents and resignations also followed. A hospital in New Jersey said a doctor resigned after a nurse alleged he "cheered" Kirk’s death, and public vigils and memorials took place in several cities, drawing thousands of attendees and public officials.
Portnoy emphasized that Barstool has acted before when employees’ conduct crossed a line and suggested the company would weigh context and severity in future cases. He said that while people have free expression, employers must consider whether remarks could justify administrative or disciplinary steps.
The remarks at Pizza Fest reflect ongoing tensions for media companies and employers balancing staff free speech, corporate reputations and public reaction following a high-profile political assassination. Portnoy did not outline specific policies or thresholds that would trigger disciplinary action at Barstool, saying only that decisions would depend on the particulars of each incident.
The company’s stance places it among a number of organizations that have responded publicly to employee commentary in the days since Kirk’s death, as both private employers and federal agencies continue to review and, in some cases, discipline staff for social media and public remarks.
