Is Alix Earle's “Hot Mess ”Podcast Heading to Barstool Sports? What Dave Portnoy's Cryptic Post Really Means

Is Alix Earle's Hot Mess podcast heading to Barstool Sports?

Following the news of her departure from Alex Cooper's Unwell Network on Feb. 25, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy inserted himself into the narrative by posting a cryptic video on Instagram that included a screenshot of an alleged phone call with Earle, 24.

Set to "Circle of Life" from Disney's The Lion King, he wrote in the caption, "You can stop tagging me. I know what needs to be done 😘."

Though fans immediately theorized whether the influencer and Barstool Sports founder were set to collaborate, he later shut down rumors, clarifying his post was meant to be a joke.

"I didn’t call her. I just thought it was funny," he wrote.

Portnoy's post seemed to be a reference to Cooper's TikTok in December 2024 right before she announced that Grace O'Malley would be joining Unwell Network after her departure from Barstool Sports. He also used Cooper's exact caption for his post as well.

In the comments of Portnoy's post, Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia, who famously had a falling out with O'Malley, told him he was "iconic" for the reference.

PEOPLE reached out to Portnoy's representative for additional comment.

Related: Alix Earle’s Hot Mess Podcast Dropped by Alex Cooper’s Network amid Feud Reports 

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The cryptic Instagram post comes after Variety reported on Feb. 25 that the Unwell Network dropped Earle's Hot Mess podcast. She was one of the first talents to be signed with the network when it launched in August 2023.

The outlet reported that the network renounced all rights to Earle's podcast and that SiriusXM will no longer sell ads for the show. Earle is free to explore other opportunities for her podcast.

Related: Grace O'Malley Joins Alex Cooper's Unwell Network After Abrupt Exit from Barstool Sports: 'Know What Needs to Be Done'

PEOPLE previously reached out to Earle and Cooper's representatives for comment.

The move comes after fan speculation around a potential feud between Cooper and Earle ramped up when Earle was absent from Unwell's Super Bowl party in New Orleans in early February.

Earle instead posted several TikToks spending time with her friends and her boyfriend Braxton Berrios during the 2025 Super Bowl weekend.

Read the original article on People