An antisemitic sign displayed at a Philadelphia sports bar over the weekend has prompted an immediate response from Barstool owner Dave Portnoy: he plans to send the individuals responsible for the sign to the former Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz, Germany, as a “teaching moment” about the Holocaust.
The incident at Barstool Sansom Street, which was captured in a video, has also led to a Temple University student being placed on interim suspension as the university investigates their involvement.
The incident occurred on Saturday, May 3rd, at Barstool Sansom Street in Philadelphia. A video circulating online showed a waitress holding up a sign with an antisemitic message. The video, reportedly taken from an Instagram story, gained traction on X by Sunday.
READ: Dave Portnoy Explains How ‘Normal Guys Can See Through’ Tim Walz
Within hours of the video going viral, Dave Portnoy, owner of Barstool, addressed the situation in an “Emergency Press Conference” video posted to social media. Portnoy, who is Jewish, expressed his dismay and announced that the waitresses involved with the table that ordered the sign had been fired.
“Tell me, how do I make this f—— right?” Portnoy said in his video, adding, “I’m on it.” He also mentioned that “two kids go to Temple” while discussing efforts to prevent similar incidents.
Later, Portnoy posted a second video stating he had spoken to the individuals who ordered the sign and plans to pay for them to visit the concentration camps at Auschwitz, Germany. He framed this as a “teaching moment” to educate them about the Holocaust.
Temple University officials became aware of reports regarding the incident and potential student involvement around 3 p.m. on Sunday. University President John Fry issued a statement the same day, condemning the act and confirming an investigation by the Division of Student Affairs.
“In the strongest terms possible, let me be clear: antisemitism is abhorrent. It has no place at Temple and acts of hatred and discrimination against any person or persons are not tolerated at this university,” Fry wrote.
READ: Dave Portnoy Says Dems’ ‘Pure Arrogance’ In Harris Camp Left Voters With ‘No Choice’ But Trump
The investigation has so far identified one Temple student believed to be involved, who has been placed on interim suspension. Fry stated that any additional students found to be connected to the incident will face strict disciplinary action under the Student Conduct Code, potentially including expulsion. The university also provided resources for students, faculty, and staff impacted by the incident.
Barstool Sansom Street also issued a statement on Instagram Sunday afternoon, saying, “We deeply apologize for the role we played in allowing hate speech to transpire.”
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
