Posted on: December 12, 2023, 05:45h.
Last updated on: December 12, 2023, 05:45h.
Barstool Sports founder David Portnoy stated his company’s new hiring policy, excluding Harvard, MIT, and University of Pennsylvania alumni, citing their deans’ questionable response to anti-Semitism. exception for Jewish students and two current Barstool employees with Harvard ties.
Portnoy’s decision was influenced by the three university presidents’ controversial testimony following the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel and their reluctance to denounce anti-Semitic activities on campus, as reported on Fox Business.
“There’s a difference between free speech and hate speech, and when you’re endangering people and causing harm, I think you got to put a stop to it. It’s called common sense,” Portnoy told Fox Business.
Highlighted in a heated debate in Congress, only one president, Liz Magill of Penn, has stepped down to date, with Gay and Kornbluth facing backlash but holding firm.
Portnoy Receives Industry Support
While no casino or sportsbook operators have followed Portnoy yet, Dr. Miriam Adelson, wife of Sheldon Adelson, expressed similar sentiments in an op-ed published in Israel Hayom.
“If you condemn Hamas and then add a ‘but’ followed by condemnation of Israel, you’re dead to us,” she wrote. “If you insist Israel is obligated to seek accommodation with Hamas … you’re dead to us.”
Portnoy received additional support from the gaming community and urged more companies to adopt his stance on not hiring graduates from these universities.
Unapologetic Advocate
Portnoy is known for his controversial remarks on social matters, having previously addressed other corporate practices and societal decisions.
“The Deans of 3 prestigious US Universities refusing to condemn students calling for the Genocide of Jews on campus. AKA — the murder of all Jews … these ‘leaders’ refuse to condemn this as hate speech on their campuses?”