What Transpired Between Brianna Chickenfry and Zach Bryan?

Zach Bryan and Brianna Chickenfry, the alias of Brianna LaPaglia, officially unveiled their relationship in July 2023. The connection between the country musician and podcaster captivated attention due to their seemingly contrasting backgrounds within the entertainment industry, yet they appeared to thrive as a couple in public outings and on social media.

In an interview with People in August 2023, LaPaglia expressed that she had received some “hate” for her romance with the country star.

“It’s entertaining. I’m really enjoying it,” the influencer remarked chuckling. “It was quite overwhelming at first, but I’ve come to realize you can’t invest too much in love or hate online. You just have to be true to yourself and see where life takes you.”

However, when the couple parted ways in October 2024, LaPaglia revealed more about their relationship, claiming that she had gone through emotional abuse. TODAY.com has contacted Bryan for comments regarding LaPaglia’s accusations as well as reaching out to LaPaglia for her insights.

Who are Zach Bryan and Brianna Chickenfry?

Zach Bryan, 28, is a Grammy-winning country artist who gained tremendous fame with his album “American Heartbreak” in 2022.

Known for his self-deprecating lyrics, he describes himself as a “damaged boy” in his song “Darling.” Conversely, some lyrics highlight the positive perspectives shown by women in his life, as heard in “Sun in Me,” where he sings, “The only bad you’ve ever done was to see the good in me.”

Brianna Chickenfry, 25, is the on-air name for podcaster Brianna LaPaglia. LaPaglia co-hosts two podcasts on Barstool Sports: “PlanBri Uncut,” alongside her friend Grace O’Malley, and the “BFFs Podcast,” where she appears alongside Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy and Josh Richards. Portnoy departed from the “BFFs Podcast” in November.

How did they announce their breakup?

On October 20, 2024, Bryan shared an Instagram story declaring the end of his relationship with LaPaglia.

“Addressing something: Brianna and I have broken up, and I have the utmost respect and love for her with every part of my heart. She has supported me endlessly for a long time, and for that, I am forever grateful,” he stated.

“I’ve faced an incredibly challenging year personally and have dealt with some intense issues,” he further explained. “I thought it was best for both of us to part ways. I am not perfect and never will be. Please honor Brianna’s privacy and space, and if you have the capacity, mine as well.”

“I am truly sorry to anyone who feels let down, especially myself. I give my best in all that I do, and I have disappointed the people who care for me, and mostly, myself,” he concluded.

Later that day, LaPaglia shared her own Instagram story, expressing how “blindsided” she felt by the announcement.

She later shared a short video on YouTube titled “Love you guys, I’ll be back soon.”

“I woke up to Zach announcing our breakup on his Instagram unexpectedly, without any prior notice through text or call,” she mentioned in the video. “I was flooded with messages asking if I was alright, feeling like something major had happened. I felt completely caught off guard,” she shared.

LaPaglia revealed she had been “crying for five days straight,” indicating that the breakup had likely happened a week before Bryan’s posting.

In the video, she expressed a desire to avoid airing details publicly, intending to “heal privately,” but vowed to discuss everything in the future.

LaPaglia provided additional context around the breakup during the November 7 episode of the “BFFs Podcast.” She stated that Bryan had broken up with her via text while she was on tour.

“I was feeling fantastic and happy, finally rediscovering myself when out of the blue, I received a text stating, ‘I can’t do this anymore, I need you,’ which threw me off balance. I was thinking, ‘What? Where is this coming from? Why are you doing this while I’m away on tour?’” she recounted.

Upon returning home after her tour concluded, LaPaglia recounted encountering instructions to “pack your bags.” They briefly separated before reconciling, but as she detailed, Bryan announced his decision to return home to Oklahoma after a show in Boston, marking their last encounter.

Ultimately, LaPaglia disclosed that their official breakup conversation occurred over text.

What has LaPaglia said about the relationship?

LaPaglia has reflected on her relationship experiences during the “BFFs Podcast” and on her TikTok account.

During the November 7 “BFF’s Podcast” episode, she noted that they had met at his concert while both were involved with other partners.

After LaPaglia became single, Bryan invited her on a road trip, which she accepted. She claimed that Bryan started to engage in “love bombing.” Only days into their trip, he had her name tattooed on his arm.

“Initially, I believed he was genuinely a fantastic person because in those first four months, he was exactly that, the person I fell for. I fell in love with an illusion, this version of him that didn’t truly exist,” she expressed.

However, she also noted a noticeable “switch” four months into the relationship. She accused Bryan of emotional abuse, describing it as a “chaotic, terrible cycle.”

“I endured genuine narcissistic emotional abuse for a year,” she stated on her podcast. “He constantly made me feel as if everything was my fault, isolated me from my entire life, and made me loathe the things I once loved about myself. He systematically broke me down, making it seem like he was my only support, repeatedly diminishing my spirit.”

In the same podcast episode, she recounted specific instances of their conflicts. For instance, she stated that Bryan disapproved of a dress she wore to the Golden Globes this past January.

“He claimed he didn’t want to date someone who presents themselves like that,” she recalled. “He would make me feel like I needed to alter my appearance to match his, leading to mental turmoil — forcing me to think that he could only accept a partner without revealing too much skin,” she elaborated.

LaPaglia reflected that this clash marked the moment she “lost herself.”

According to LaPaglia, another altercation occurred when she was singing country artist Morgan Wallen’s song “Last Night.” Bryan was alleged to have expressed astonishment that she was “singing another man’s song within my own home.” She stated these disputes stretched over a week’s duration. She also disclosed that she was forbidden from listening to Noah Kahan, an artist who collaborated with Bryan, claiming she “listened to him too much.”

In a TikTok video on November 11, LaPaglia revealed that the relationship led her to lose 15 pounds due to being “physically ill from the mental strain I endured.”

Following the breakup, LaPaglia articulated that she refuses to be “defined” by their relationship. “I’ll be damned if I let my career be dictated by how he hurt me,” she expressed in a TikTok video on November 20.

What does an NDA have to do with this?

During the November 7 podcast episode, LaPaglia also claimed that Bryan requested her to sign a non-disclosure agreement following their breakup, offering her $12 million and a New York apartment as compensation for her silence.

She mentioned contemplating the offer “for a second,” but ultimately declined, asserting that you cannot simply pay off people who have been hurt for their silence.

LaPaglia noted that Bryan had previously convinced “the women before (her)” that they had no option but to accept money from him and relinquish their accounts of experiences.

She refused the money to advocate for other victims of emotional abuse, stating, “It’s not merely about me, it’s about anyone who has faced emotional abuse, for those currently going through it, for those who lack support, unlike what I was fortunate enough to possess as I navigated this. My last year has been the toughest, dealing with the fallout from this dude’s abuse,” she elaborated.

Moreover, LaPaglia emphasized her aspiration to represent survivors in a TikTok video shared on November 20. “I want to empower others to continue living their lives, and even when it’s challenging, they must — or they won’t,” she added.

She reported receiving “tens of thousands” of messages daily from individuals who found the courage to leave their own relationships or felt validated in their experiences.