Dave Portnoy is in disbelief over Bill Belichick’s viral CBS interview and wonders whether the renowned football coach is being coercively controlled by his much-younger girlfriend, Jordon Hudson.
“People are saying that he’s, like, being held hostage,” the Barstool Sports founder, 48, said on “Barstool Rundown” Monday. “I’ve met Jordon. I don’t know what to say.”
Portnoy, referencing a particular part of the CBS interview in which Belichick appeared confused over a question asked about Instagram pics of him and Hudson, added, “I don’t think he knows, still, what social media is — that these photos are, like, out there.”
Dave Portnoy reacted to people thinking Bill Belichick is “being held hostage” by Jordon Hudson. Barstool Sports/YouTube
“I’ve met Jordon. I don’t know what to say,” the Barstool Sports founder said on his show. Barstool Sports/YouTube
On “CBS Sunday Morning,” journalist Tony Dokoupil pointed out how there were “great pictures” of the couple pretending to be a fisherman and a mermaid and doing yoga-like poses on the beach.
“It’s charming. It’s a different side of you. What’s the reaction been like?” he then asked.
A dismayed Belichick asked back, “What’s it been like?,” which prompted Dokoupil, 44, to further clarify which pictures he was referencing.
The University of North Carolina coach responded, “Yeah, so I’m on some of those social media platforms, but I honestly don’t follow ’em.”
On “CBS Sunday Morning,” Belichick was asked about social media photos of him and Hudson, like the one above. Jordan Hudson/Instagram
“I’m on some of those social media platforms, but I honestly don’t follow ’em,” the coach responded. CBS
“I don’t know if he knew anybody else saw those photos,” Portnoy further speculated on his show. “He’s like, ‘I don’t know who sent you those.’”
The businessman also said he was “literally squirming” while watching the interview, in which Hudson was also seen stepping in to shut down another question Dokoupil had about how she and Belichick met.
The former cheerleader reportedly also caused a 30-minute delay during the uncomfortable sit-down.
Megyn Kelly, who, like Portnoy, has expressed concern about Belichick — even wondering if he’s a victim of elder abuse — also thought the social media segment of the CBS interview was odd.
During the awkward interview, Hudson also interrupted a question about how they met. CBS
She reportedly also caused a 30-minute delay. CBS
“The reactions online are basically blink twice if you need help, Bill Belichick,” the journalist, 54, said on “The Megyn Kelly Show” Monday, “and that’s how it looks. I’m concerned for him.”
Neither Belichick nor Hudson have directly responded to the backlash and, in fact, ignored paparazzi’s questions on the matter during an outing in New York City on Monday.
However, Hudson, 24, hinted that she and Belichick are not surprised by the media’s fascination with the fiasco by leaking a fiery email the coach sent his team earlier this month in which he slammed the press.
Belichick and Hudson have not directly addressed the debacle. Getty Images
The May-December couple has been dating since 2023. VAIL FUCCI
The “Art of Winning” author wrote at the time that he was upset that articles being written about his memoir were all hyper-focused on a line in his book in which he admitted he “f–ked up.”
“I am not going to be the conductor of a hype train in the book promotion — we have enough hype to work with,” Belichick told his staff. “I hope we can get on the same page in promoting the book authentically.”
Hudson — who shared photos of her playing in Nantucket, Mass., with friends following the interview’s release — teased in the Instagram caption of the email post, “Full statement to be released later today.”
