Dave Portnoy stepped into the middle of a fast-moving NFL controversy this week, and it did not take long for the internet to react. The Barstool Sports founder publicly defended Stefon Diggs after reports surfaced about a serious allegation involving the wide receiver and his personal chef.
Portnoy’s comments leaned heavily on one familiar principle: innocent until proven guilty. In doing so, he reignited an already heated debate around how fans, media figures, and teams should handle accusations involving star athletes.
Dave Portnoy’s ‘Innocent Until Proven Guilty’ Defense Of Stefon Diggs
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Portnoy weighed in after it was revealed that Patriots receiver Diggs was accused of slapping and choking his personal chef during a financial dispute at his home in the Boston suburb of Dedham on December 2. The allegation, which surfaced publicly on Tuesday, quickly set off intense conversation across NFL circles.
In a video response, Portnoy leaned heavily on a legal principle he said too many people forget once accusations become public. “First of all, in this great country of ours, America, it’s innocent until proven guilty. And what team won the first Super Bowl after 9/11, that brought this country together and stood up for everything great about this country? The Patriots,” Portnoy argued.
Portnoy acknowledged he did not have access to all the facts but continued to stress restraint before drawing conclusions, while pointing to how the Patriots have handled serious allegations in the past. Referencing a previous high-profile case, he said, “Aaron Hernandez. The second he got accused of murdering a bunch of people, before you could even say double homicide he was cut, he was gone. We don’t care, wins losses, we look for good people, good humans.”
He also questioned the details surrounding the reported financial dispute, suggesting parts of the claim did not add up in his view. “Again, innocent until proven guilty. I find it peculiar that a personal chef can have all of these back wages owed and still be cooking. If you’re owed all this money and the guy is not paying, you stop cooking or you’re on a salary and the money’s getting paid. So how do you have so many back wages that suddenly you’re getting choked out?”
“Innocent until proven guilty, and if you’ve never had a personal chef you really shouldn’t weigh in here.
“I hope for the sake of everybody, the chef, Stefon Diggs, this is all a bunch of malarkey.”
The comments capped off a defense focused on due process. By questioning the wage dispute and stressing restraint, Portnoy framed his stance as a warning against rushing to conclusions before investigators establish what actually happened.
The Personal Chef Strangulation Allegation And The Online Debate
The allegation involving Diggs and his personal chef immediately drew strong reactions, especially around how teams and the league handle accusations depending on the player involved. One fan argued, “You would be asking why he isnt suspended already if he were still with the Bills.”
Others took issue with Portnoy’s reasoning altogether. “Twisted logic. Aaron Hernandez was cut immediately, yet Stefon Diggs is supposedly innocent until proven guilty. So now the Patriots get to decide who is guilty and who is innocent?” one comment read, questioning whether standards are applied consistently.
Some reactions mocked the basis of Portnoy’s defense rather than engaging with the legal argument itself. “Before anybody gets angry at Dave, he is allowed to comment because he has a personal chef and knows choking doesn’t always have to be violent,” another fan wrote sarcastically.
Together, the comments showed how quickly the focus shifted from the allegation itself to broader frustrations about precedent and credibility. As the investigation continues, the divide remains sharp between calls for patience and demands for accountability.
Published: Dec 31, 2025 04:11 pm