Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia, 25, has publicly accused her ex-boyfriend, country musician Zach Bryan, 29, of emotional abuse throughout their relationship. LaPaglia made the revelations during a candid discussion on the BFFs Podcast on November 7, alongside co-hosts Dave Portnoy and Josh Richards. She shared her account of the turbulent relationship, which allegedly involved manipulation and control, shortly after Bryan confirmed their breakup on October 22.
Both LaPaglia and Bryan have yet to respond to requests for comment regarding the allegations.
Reflecting on the past year, LaPaglia described it as the “hardest year of [her] life,” attributing much of her struggle to what she described as emotional abuse from Bryan. She explained, “I’m scared of him,” and revealed she initially hesitated to discuss the relationship due to fear. According to her, the cycle of “building you up, beating you down, and apologizing over and over” became a persistent pattern.
LaPaglia shared details of what she called a “cycle of mistreatment,” describing instances where she would be left “crying herself to sleep” after arguments, followed by Bryan’s apologies and promises to improve. “If you’ve been through this,” she told listeners, “you understand the emotional toll it takes.”
In a surprising twist, LaPaglia also claimed that Bryan had pressured his former partners into signing non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to keep them from publicly discussing their experiences with him. According to her, Bryan offered her $12 million and an apartment in New York to “not talk about the relationship.” She declined the offer, insisting that she would not “sign away” her experiences or silence her story.
“I’m not like the women before,” LaPaglia stated, expressing her determination to break the silence. “I don’t want his money, and I don’t want to look back in a few years at a house funded by someone who caused me so much pain.”
LaPaglia was candid about her choice to speak up, framing it as a message for others who may be experiencing similar emotional abuse. “This isn’t about drama or trying to hurt him,” she said. “This is for anyone who doesn’t have a support system. I’m not signing away what I went through to protect someone who hurt me.”
The couple reportedly met in May 2023 at the Academy of Country Music Awards, and they began dating officially in July. Their relationship quickly became the subject of public attention due to both LaPaglia’s and Bryan’s high-profile statuses. The split was publicly announced by Bryan on October 22, with a statement on Instagram in which he requested privacy. He acknowledged their separation, expressing his respect and love for LaPaglia despite their decision to part ways. “She has loved me unconditionally for a long time, and for that, I’ll always thank her,” he wrote, alluding to personal challenges he had been dealing with.
In response, LaPaglia revealed on Instagram Stories that she was blindsided by the announcement. She expressed her intent to step back from social media to “heal privately,” telling her followers she would return once she was ready to share more. “Thank you for your kind words,” she wrote. “Remember, you are loved, and everything is going to be okay.”
For many fans, the revelations paint a stark picture of a complicated relationship behind the scenes, underscoring the emotional impact that high-profile relationships can have, especially when personal struggles are involved. LaPaglia’s decision to speak out is likely to resonate with others facing similar challenges, contributing to ongoing conversations about emotional abuse and empowerment.
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