Dave Portnoy on standing ground 'against our haters'

Dave Portnoy says Barstool Sports' ability to stand its ground against controversies has "endeared people to us" and made a "fierce, loyal" fanbase.

"A lot of times, I feel like people apologized just for the sake of getting this controversy behind them ... satisfying their boss, satisfying an advertiser," Portnoy told PBS News' Amna Nawaz. "We never did that."

He said not apologizing "made people, our fans at least, respect us."

Portnoy, who started Barstool as a free gambling newsletter in the early 2000s, said controversy was "never part of the strategy." But, he said, the company has "benefited" from it.

"When you weather that storm, the advertisers tend to come back, and your fan base really does become stronger, stickier," he later added.

He spoke to Amna Nawaz for the latest episode of the PBS News' podcast, "Settle In." They discussed his new book, "Cancel Me If You Can," which details his rise and the controversies he's faced along the way.

For the full episode, click the link in our bio.

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