Bryan then officially announced the breakup on his Instagram story, asking for fans to respect their privacy.
She has loved me unconditionally for a very long time and for that Ill always thank her.
I have had an incredibly hard year personally and struggled through some pretty severe things.
Zach Bryan and Bri LaPaglia, a.k.a. Brianna Chickenfry, at the 66th Grammy Awards, held at Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 4, 2024, in Los Angeles.Gilbert Flores/Billboard/Getty Images
I thought it would be beneficial for both of us to go our different ways.
I am not perfect and I never will be.
With everything I am and to anyone I let down, I am sorry.
I try my best in everything.
I failed people that love me and mostly myself.
Im completely blindsided by that.
The Backstory
So why are people so interested in the first place?
Bryan, 28, is best known as one of therising stars of country music.
After interning at Barstool, she became a host of theBFFspodcast alongsideJosh Richardsand Barstool founderDave Portnoy.
LaPaglia publicly confirmed their relationship on her podcast after a month of escalating rumors.
Well see where it goes, and Im happy.
In an August 2023 interview withPeople, LaPaglia confessed that Bryan fans were harassing her.
Im kind of eating it up.
You just kinda gotta be yourself and see where it takes ya.
Some fans have accused Bryan of cheating, while others have declared LaPaglia deserving of the heartbreak.
Every time I met him, I was not comfortable with him, Portnoy said.
He just seemed like an insecure, immature, not-confident baby.
Some have pushed back, however.
Bryans ex Peifer asked commenters on TikTok to stop assuming she was glad Bryan and LaPaglia had broken up.
I just wanna be clear on the fact that I dont find any gratification in other people hurting.
Specifically other women hurting, she said on TikTok.
Im literally so fine besties, she said in a recent Instagram Story update.
F men and k!ll em all lmao.
But according to Portnoy, the strike was because Richards has an ongoing contract with WMG.
An Explosive Episode
BFFs returned Thursday night with adetailed episodeon LaPaglia and Bryans relationship.
She described incidents where she was verbally berated, claimed Bryan was often drunk, belligerent, and destructive.
A representative for Bryan did not immediately respond toRolling Stones request for comment.
