$12 million and leaked texts: The messy breakup you're seeing everywhere, explained.

The saga between Brianna LaPaglia, aka 'Brianna Chickenfry', and Zach Bryan is still going strong.

LaPaglia, a Barstool Sports podcast host known as 'Brianna Chickenfry', and Zach, a popular country music star, were in a widely publicised relationship that ended in late 2024.

After what initally appeared to be an amicable split, LaPaglia came forward in late-2024 with allegations that Zach subjected her to emotional abuse, including manipulation and isolation from her loved ones, and when they split, he offered her up to $12 million and a house to sign an NDA about their breakup, which she refused.

This brings us to this week, as Bryan has reignited the feud by leaking private breakup texts from LaPaglia on his Instagram Story, only to delete them soon after.

In these texts, LaPaglia wrote: "I still have love for you and things would have ended differently if it were up to me. I hope one day you can see past all ... and know I was always in your corner." The texts were dated around October 29, 2024, just after their split.

Bryan also leaked a message that he claimed LaPaglia sent to his manager where she outlined potential post-breakup options, suggesting that it was LaPaglia's idea for the alleged NDA.

These included weighing up the option of accepting $12 million in exchange for staying silent about their relationship, or accepting a house (the 'Duxbury house') in exchange for agreeing to not speak about any alleged cheating or portraying Zach as a narcissist.

It's worth noting, she also floated an 'Option C', which would mean refusing any deal and preparing for a "messy war" by airing out "everything I experienced" without holding back.

Which umm… is pretty damn close to exactly what happened.

Image: Instagram/@zachlanebryan.

LaPaglia quickly fired back on social media. "Boy is blackout at 7 am again shocker," she wrote in an Instagram Story.

She then posted a screenshot of "his manager texting [her] THEIR OPTIONS FOR AN NDA."

LaPaglia said that the leaked text Bryan shared was simply a response to a NDA that was proposed to her.

She continued, "I have not told ONE lie ever. … I was offered 12.9 million dollars to stay quiet. I was presented [with] options on what I could choose. I chose none because I have morals."

The screenshots show someone outlining NDA options and significant hush money — $10 million or a house — to keep her quiet about certain incidents, including sharing video footage known as the 'Grace recording'.

Image: Instagram/@briannalapaglia.

A week earlier, the drama between them started to stir when fans began to speculate that Bryan's new song 'River Washed Hair' was about LaPaglia, which is sung about a "sweet girl" who used to be known as Anna.

In a video questioning the song's inspiration, Bryan commented on the TikTok, writing "lmfao I said 'sweet' this is not about whatever she has going on hahahahahaah."

The comment has since been deleted.

@taydepadua

I’m so conflicted 💀 #zachbryan

♬ River Washed Hair - Zach Bryan

But not before LaPaglia saw it, and she commented in a different video about the song.

"Lmao obviously he doesn't think I'm sweet I turned down 12 million dollars to share my abuse," she wrote in a TikTok comment. "Also fyi his songs aren't about anyone he writes them drunk at 6am."

The public feud between these exes started last year.

In November 2024, LaPaglia described the past year as "the hardest year of my life dealing with the abuse from this dude," and alleged that after their October 2024 split, Bryan's team approached her with "a lot of money, like a big lump sum of money and a few options".

She claims the offer, which included $12 million awarded over three years and a New York apartment, came with one condition: silence.

LaPaglia said that while she "thought about it for a second," she soon realised that she was "someone who was established, who was successful before him".

Thus, she refused the alleged offer, stating: "I did not accept any money. I will not accept any money. I think that's beneath me. I think that's f**ked up."

LaPaglia has since also accused Bryan of cheating on her throughout their relationship, as well as being overly jealous in certain situations.

Here's what LaPaglia has said about her experiences, her decision to turn down the alleged NDA, and the impact the relationship has had on her life.

Image: Instagram.

Brianna 'Chickenfry' LaPaglia and Zach Bryan's relationship timeline.

The couple's relationship began in 2023 and quickly became public, with the duo attending high-profile events like the Grammys together.

For a while, they appeared inseparable and frequently shared their relationship on social media.

But things changed when Bryan announced their breakup on Instagram on October 22, 2024, calling it "beneficial for both of us to part ways".

"I respect and love her with every ounce of my heart."

"She has loved me unconditionally for a very long time and for that I'll always thank her," he continued.

About an hour after Bryan posted, LaPaglia said that she was feeling "really blindsided" in a post shared to her Instagram story.

"Hey guys I'm feeling really blindsided right now. Gonna hop off social media for a while and attempt to heal privately, when I'm ready I'll be back and ready to talk," she wrote at the time.

LaPaglia then thanked followers for their "kind words," before writing, "Remember you are so loved and everything's always gonna be okay".

Then, in a bombshell episode of the BFFs Podcast, LaPaglia said that Bryan had gone public with their split before she even had a chance to process it privately.

"Everyone in my life found out about my breakup from his Instagram story," she said.

Image: Instagram.

An engagement ring and cheating accusations.

Following their messy split, LaPaglia accused Bryan of cheating on her during their relationship.

"Fun fact my biggest celeb crush tried to slide a few months ago but of course I denied bc I had a bf and I was getting cheated on the whole time hahahhahaa," she captioned one TikTok video.

She also responded to several comments on the video, confirming that she was indeed talking about ex, Zach Bryan.

@ihatebriannachickenfry

Fun fact my biggest celeb crush tried to slide a few months ago but of course i denied bc i had a bf and i was getting cheated on the whole time hahhahahahahah

♬ original sound - MizzGouldie

One commenter wrote, "I fear Zach Bryan was Bri's Stephan from Tell Me Lies," referring to a character known for being a master manipulator.

To which LaPaglia responded, "I've heard this, I have to watch the show".

In another comment, LaPaglia said that Bryan had shown her an engagement ring the very same week he was messaging other women.

"Been finding out he was cheating the whole time lol. The week he showed me my engagement ring he was DMing girls hahahahha," she wrote.

LaPaglia has accused Bryan of being overly jealous.

During a segment on her BFF podcast, LaPaglia shared another concerning story about Bryan from their relationship.

She claimed that on one occasion, Bryan allegedly kicked a TikToker called Connor Wood out of the car for simply touching her shoulder.

"Zach tried to murder him because he touched my shoulder," LaPaglia said. "Like, in the car. Made him pull the car over, kicked him out of the car."

During the same episode, LaPaglia alleged that Bryan "freaked the f*** out" when she started singing a Morgan Wallen song at home (he's another country singer, for those unaware).

She recalled scrolling TikTok one morning and singing lyrics from Wallen's song 'Last Night' when Bryan got upset.

"Like, freaked the f--- out," she said. "Like, he could not believe, 'You're singing another man's song under my roof in this house that I own.' It was a fight for I think a week, [because] I came up the stairs saying, 'Last night we let the liquor talk.'"

She also claimed she was not allowed to listen to singer Noah Kahan because Bryan believed she listened "to him too much."

Since then, fans have been playing Wallen and Kahan songs on TikTok in supportive videos of LaPaglia.

What else has Brianna 'Chickenfry' LaPaglia said?

Reflecting on their relationship, LaPaglia alleged, "The last year of my life has been like the hardest year of my life dealing with the abuse from this dude."

She described her experience as a pattern of emotional manipulation, saying, "There was always another excuse as to why he was treating me so poorly, why I'm crying myself to sleep every night, why he's screaming at me."

She elaborated on the cycle she felt trapped in: "And then you wake up, it's the apology, it's the 'I'm going to be better, I need you in my life.'"

LaPaglia alleged it was "narcissistic emotional abuse", and admitted that, even now, she remains fearful.

"I'm still scared right now because I'm scared of him. My brain's rewired, and I'm scared to make him mad," she admitted.

Image: Getty.

LaPaglia detailed how Bryan allegedly ruined several important occasions in her life.

"Anything good I did for me, he made sure to ruin it for me," she said. "He ruined my birthday, he ruined my tour, he ruined the Golden Globes."

One of the specific incidents she recounted involved Bryan's disapproval of her attire at the Golden Globes.

"That was f**ing crazy. That was the first time he had really tried to control what I wore and what I posted," she shared.

"So I went to the Golden Globes and I posted like a carousel of pictures, and he didn't like my dress."

She described Bryan's reaction, saying, "He said he didn't want to date someone that presents themselves that way. And he unfollowed me, he unfollowed everyone, I flew home after the Golden Globes. He ruined my night."

Bri claims Bryan disapproved of her dress at the Golden Globes. Image: Instagram.

LaPaglia also discussed an alleged incident on her birthday when Bryan reportedly yelled at her friends.

"I look outside and I have my aunt trying to control Zach — there's a recording of all of this that can never be out — basically Zach stood up at the fire and he just starts screaming at my friends," she explained.

"[He] just starts screaming at my friends, 'You're not going to be anything, you're a [expletive] loser.' Just the most horrible [expletive]. It was just crazy, completely out of nowhere ."

She added, "When Zach gets in that zone, there's no containing it."

LaPaglia also alleged that Bryan smashed her phone adding that he would "whip it at a wall."

The alleged $12 million NDA offer—and her refusal to sign.

After the breakup, LaPaglia claims that Bryan's team approached her with an offer of "a lot of money, like a big lump sum of money and a few options."

After her co-hosts revealed the sum was a whopping $12 million, LaPaglia said, "Basically, I would have gotten the money over the course of three years.

"

She firmly refused, stating, "I did not accept any money. I will not accept any money. I think that's beneath me. I don't think you can pay people off that you hurt for them to protect you."

Image: YouTube

She also explained her feelings about the situation, saying, "I think that in itself, offering millions of dollars to this apparent beautiful relationship to keep it a secret, speaks volumes."

LaPaglia said her decision to speak out wasn't only for herself.

"It's not just for me—it's for anyone else who's been emotionally abused, for people who are being emotionally abused right now, and for people who don't have a support system like I was lucky enough to have over the last year."

'I lost myself throughout this whole relationship.'

Reflecting on the toll the relationship took on her, LaPaglia admitted, "I lost myself throughout this whole relationship. I don't even recognise myself anymore."

She shared that she lost weight and struggled to sleep, becoming isolated from friends, family, and work.

"I lost 15 pounds I didn't have to lose, in the relationship. I didn't sleep. Was completely isolated from my family, from my friends, from work," she said.

"He just took me out of my life. It was awful, and I stayed because I was stuck and I loved the dude. I kind of blame myself—I'm like, why did I stay? There's no answer. It's crazy."

Image: Getty.

LaPaglia expressed that speaking out has helped her regain her sense of self.

"I hope people can understand what I went through this past year and see why I lost myself and wasn't who I was before him."

She added, "But I'm back now, and I'm so happy to just be myself again. No more dictatorship here."

How has Zach Bryan responded to Brianna's claims?

While Bryan hasn't directly responded to LaPaglia's allegations, he has made some social media posts prior to the bombshell allegations that some interpreted as indirect reactions.

Recently, Bryan promoted a new song called High Road with lyrics that seem pointed: "Everyone is tellin' me that I need help or therapy / But all I need is to be left alone."

Following their breakup, Bryan shared an emotional post on Instagram, reflecting on personal challenges and his return to Oklahoma.

Though he didn't address LaPaglia directly, he posted, "I failed people that love me and mostly myself," adding, "I am not perfect and never will be."

As LaPaglia's allegations were coming out, Bryan announced his need to 'quit touring'.

His aptly named 'Quittin' Time' tour began in March, and he will continue his North American dates and London shows in June 2025.

However, his future tour schedule is now in limbo, with the singer saying he has "never been more excited to finish a run up."

He shared to Instagram, "After not being home for a year and a half I drove out to my mothers gravestone in the dead of night a few days back on familiar Oklahoma roads and I came to realize just like in the past, that she never would call me again.

"Told her I quit touring because I got accepted to get my masters in Paris next year, I told her I was back in Oklahoma, told her about all my best friends in New York and all the nights we howled with the moon."

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please seek professional support and contact 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732. If you are in immediate danger, call 000.

Feature image: Getty.

This article was originally published on November 18, 2024 and has since been updated with new information.