Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia is speaking out about her tumultuous relationship with country singer Zach Bryan, highlighting claims of emotional abuse and describing her experience on the popular "BFFs" podcast. During recent episodes, LaPaglia shared her reluctance to fully disclose the worst details of her time with Bryan, citing her desire to protect his reputation even as she outlined the psychological distress she claims he caused her.
LaPaglia, who is also known for her social media presence and work with Barstool Sports, mentioned feeling conflicted about discussing specifics of their relationship. "I wanted to cut the birthday party story because it was going to paint him in a bad light," she said, reflecting on how she opted to hold back some of her experiences due to concern for how it might impact Bryan’s image. Her co-hosts, Dave Portnoy and Josh Richards, urged her to share more, knowing the resonance it might have for other women who might have endured similar experiences.
On one episode, LaPaglia recalled how Bryan broke glass during her 25th birthday celebrations, allegedly screaming insults at her friends. "He stood up at the fire and just started screaming at my friends, 'You’re not going to be anything, you’re a fing loser,'" she recounted. This confrontation distressed her so much, LaPaglia insisted there’s video evidence from the night, which she described as something "that can never be out."
Further complicate matters, LaPaglia revealed alleged efforts by Bryan to silence her through financial means. According to her, he offered her $12 million to sign a non-disclosure agreement to prevent her from discussing their relationship publicly—an offer she firmly declined. "I don't want, in two years, to buy a fing house and think, ‘Oh, this is the money from the dude who literally f***ing destroyed me and broke me for a year,'" she stated clearly, illustrating her resolve to not allow her story to be buried by money.
Throughout their relationship, LaPaglia has described Bryan’s emotional manipulation as building her up before tearing her down. "It was just this constant cyclical torment of ‘Built you up, beat you down, apologize,’ over and over and over,'" she explained bluntly. Despite these experiences, LaPaglia maintained she hopes Bryan will confront his issues and work on his behavior rather than continue down unhealthy paths.
She expressed frustration with his silence following her revelations of abuse, which she called "deafening" and indicative of his character. "I think the response itself, the silence, is deafening. I think his response proves his character again," she remarked. During these discussions, LaPaglia emphasized her claim wasn’t simply to turn fans against Bryan but to shed light on her distressing experiences to help other women. "My goal was never to tear him down. If people can’t understand what kind of relationship I was in, they’re on the wrong side of things," she added, indicating she sought to evoke awareness rather than animosity.
LaPaglia has been open about how relationships with public figures often lead to complicated emotional entanglements. She previously warned against dating famous people, admitting it took her by surprise when she found herself romantically involved with someone as high-profile as Bryan.
Reflecting on their relationship, she stated, "I said on the BFFs [podcast] I would never date anyone famous ever. Literally never wanted to and then it kinda just happened." Her reluctance to fully engage with their breakup and the aftermath continued beyond their split. Following Bryan’s October breakup announcement, LaPaglia revealed she felt blindsided, emphasising her emotional turmoil. "How can you give every ounce of yourself to someone and then be discarded of in a few days?" she asked rhetorically during her podcast discussion.
The two had been dating for over a year, during which their relationship had often been under the public eye, with fans tracking their every move. LaPaglia noted her heartache was compounded by the very public nature of social media, which left her feeling lost and exposed during such a vulnerable period.
Meanwhile, Bryan has remained largely quiet on the allegations, opting to share cryptic messages on social media instead. Even after LaPaglia’s strong statements, he took to Instagram with seemingly unrelated posts about personal rides and reflections, indicating his discomfort with the revelations about their past.
LaPaglia’s approach to discussing her experience aims at creating solidarity and support for those who have faced similar situations. “If you’ve been there, you know what I’m talking about,” she said, hoping to reach others who might be struggling with similar issues. Her brave sharing stands as both a personal catharsis and as part of the broader dialogue surrounding emotional abuse, aiming to help people recognize toxic patterns and seek assistance.
Through discussing these dark experiences publicly, LaPaglia is contributing to the conversation around the impacts of emotional abuse, challenging the stigma often attached to such narratives. Her transparency may encourage more discussions about what goes unspoken, offering glimpses of hope to those affected.
Despite the pain of her past relationship, Brianna LaPaglia expresses optimism for her future, with lessons learned from her experiences with Zach Bryan, not just about herself, but about how to navigate relationships with concern for emotional health and boundaries.
