Barstool founder Dave Portnoy says he ‘does not know why CNN would not talk about’ his fundraising effort to help struggling small businesses because ‘the more publicity we get, the more donations we get, the more businesses we can help.’
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy on Wednesday questioned why CNN would “name” its fundraising effort to help struggling small business owners amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Portnoy told “Varney & Co.” said Wednesday that he thinks “everyone should care about this.”
Portnoy first announced to CNN the previous day that he had not covered his massive fundraiser, which from Wednesday afternoon raised nearly $ 18.9 million from nearly 150,700 supporters for 80 small business owners struggling during the pandemic.
Last month, Portnoy launched ‘The Barstool Fund’ for small businesses in need of a financial lifeline. Companies can apply by email for assistance with needs such as rent or tax payments, provided they continue to pay their employees throughout the pandemic.
The fund, which Portnoy started with its own $ 500,000 contribution, has gone viral. Portnoy spoke to Stuart Varney on Wednesday, pointing to the fund’s major contributors, including the NFL superstar. Tom Brady, Host Guy Foodi, and musician Kid Rock.
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The founder of Barstool Sports further said that the tens of thousands of “everyday people” who contributed to the cause are the “most gripping part” of his fundraising effort.
Despite the success of Portnoy’s fundraising, however, it earns little or no press from the mainstream media.
On Sunday, Portnoy took note of a tweet posted by CNN reporting on Beyoncé’s ‘BeyGOOD Impact Fund’ offering $ 5,000 grants to 100 people facing embezzlement during the pandemic.
“That’s great. I wonder if there are other charities going on that are helping Americans with the corona pandemic that can use press coverage to raise more money?” Portnoy responded in his own tweet, adding three cricket emojis.
“I have no problem with them talking about Beyonce,” Portnoy told host Stuart Varney on Wednesday. ‘Any charity is good. She donated, I think, half a million dollars to help people who are being kicked out of their homes because of COVID, which is great. ‘
‘We close 20 million [dollars]. We have helped 80 businesses, ‘he continued. “I do not care if you are political or not political. Everyone needs to care about this. ‘
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Portnoy emphasizes that he has ‘nothing against Beyonce’.
‘Name Beyonce. She’s famous. “She’s doing a good job, but we’re also doing something and I think it will help everyone the more publicity we get, ‘Portnoy said.
CNN did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment.
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It appears that CNN made no mention of Portnoy’s efforts on air or online, but the liberal network is not alone. MSNBC also skipped coverage of ‘The Barstool Fund’, as did The New York Times and The Washington Post. Portnoy noted that he appeared on NBC’s “Today Show” on Wednesday morning.
“I’m hitting the drum,” Portnoy said. “I will go on any network anytime, anywhere, because the more publicity we get, the more donations we get, the more businesses we can help.”
Fox News ‘Joseph Wulfsohn and FOX Business’ Thomas Barrabi contributed to his report.