Country music star Zach Bryan and social media influencer Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia have officially ended their relationship after dating for over a year. The news of their breakup was announced by Bryan on October 22, but LaPaglia has expressed she wasn’t ready for it to be made public yet. The breakup has sparked considerable online discussion, especially after rumors about Bryan’s dating app activity surfaced. Here’s everything you need to know about their split, how they got together, and why the dating app Raya is being brought into the conversation.
Who Are Zach Bryan and Brianna LaPaglia?
Zach Bryan is a 28-year-old country singer-songwriter who has rapidly gained fame with his heartfelt lyrics and soulful music. He’s particularly known for his raw and emotional storytelling, which resonates deeply with his fans. Bryan recently released his fifth studio album, The Great American Bar Scene, in July, marking another milestone in his career. However, despite his professional success, Bryan has found himself embroiled in controversy recently, including a Twitter feud with Taylor Swift’s fans, known as “Swifties,” after he compared Swift to Kanye West in a tweet, something he later said was made under the influence of alcohol. This added another layer of public scrutiny to his already busy year.
Brianna LaPaglia, also known as Brianna Chickenfry, is a 25-year-old influencer and podcaster with a huge following on social media. She first gained fame through a viral Vine video, which led to her quirky nickname, and she has since built a significant presence online. As a co-host of Barstool Sports’ BFFs podcast, she shares the mic with Barstool founder Dave Portnoy and social media personality Josh Richards. LaPaglia’s popularity continues to grow, especially among Gen Z, for her unapologetic, candid discussions about life, relationships, and internet culture. Following the breakup, Portnoy made it clear where his loyalties lie by dedicating a post to LaPaglia, with a shout-out to Taylor Swift’s song The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived, a jab seemingly aimed at Bryan after the breakup became public.
When Did Their Relationship Begin?
The beginning of Zach Bryan and Brianna LaPaglia’s romance dates back to May 2023, when the two met at the Academy of Country Music Awards. The event brought them together in what seemed like a fateful meeting, with sparks flying almost immediately. After their initial encounter, LaPaglia attended one of Bryan’s concerts, where she and her BFFs podcast co-host Josh Richards were invited up on stage, making their connection even more public.
Their budding relationship became a talking point after LaPaglia’s Plan Bri Uncut podcast released an episode titled Eat the Rich (Except Zach Bryan) in June 2023. The episode caught Bryan’s attention, leading him to slide into her DMs, and soon after, the two began talking regularly. Their chemistry quickly turned into something more significant, with LaPaglia officially confirming their relationship in July 2023.
Zach Bryan’s Statement on the Breakup
The breakup came as a surprise to fans when Zach Bryan took to his Instagram Stories on October 22 to announce the end of their relationship. In his post, Bryan opened up about the challenges he has been facing in his personal life, hinting at a difficult year that involved “severe things” he had been struggling with. While he did not go into specifics about what caused the breakup, his statement reflected a sense of regret and personal accountability. He mentioned that parting ways would be beneficial for both him and LaPaglia, indicating that the decision was made with mutual respect.
In his post, Bryan expressed his “love and respect” for LaPaglia but admitted that he is “not perfect” and has made mistakes that may have hurt those close to him. “I failed people that love me and mostly myself,” Bryan wrote, adding that he was sorry to anyone he let down. Although his message was heartfelt, it left many wondering if there were deeper issues that contributed to the breakup, which Bryan chose not to share at the time.
Brianna LaPaglia’s Emotional Response
While Zach Bryan’s Instagram Story brought the breakup into the public eye, Brianna LaPaglia’s reaction showed that she was blindsided by his decision to announce it so suddenly. In a YouTube video titled Love you guys, I’ll be back soon, posted the same day as Bryan’s announcement, LaPaglia revealed that the relationship ended just one day earlier, on October 21. She explained that Bryan didn’t give her any warning before going public with the news, which left her feeling hurt and confused.
Through tears, LaPaglia expressed her frustration, saying that she had hoped for time to process the breakup privately before it became public knowledge. “I wanted to just be hurt for a week and lay in bed, you know?” she said, clearly emotional about the suddenness of the situation. She described feeling “blindsided” and explained that she had been “crying for like five days” leading up to the breakup. In her emotional video, LaPaglia also questioned how someone could love another person “unconditionally” and still be “discarded in a few days.” The pain in her voice and words resonated with her fans, many of whom offered support in the comments.
In addition to her YouTube video, LaPaglia also posted a cryptic Instagram Story on October 21, the day of the breakup, saying, “life goes on, even if you don’t want it to,” hinting at her emotional state. She has since taken a step back from social media, telling her followers that she plans to heal privately before sharing more details about the breakup. She promised to return once she feels ready to open up about what happened between her and Bryan.
What Role Does the Dating App Raya Play?
The day before Zach Bryan confirmed the breakup, rumors began circulating on Reddit about his appearance on the exclusive, members-only dating app, Raya. A Reddit user claimed that Bryan’s profile had popped up on the app, raising questions about when exactly he started swiping, given the timing of his breakup with LaPaglia. This immediately set off speculation online, with some wondering if Bryan had started using Raya shortly after the split, or even while they were still together.
Further fueling the rumors, an anonymous source told Us Weekly that Bryan had been spotted on dating apps during their relationship, and that someone had even sent LaPaglia a screenshot of his Raya profile. According to the source, Bryan denied any infidelity but agreed that it was best for them to part ways.
While there’s no confirmation that Bryan’s Raya profile had anything to do with the breakup, the timing of it certainly raised eyebrows. The revelation has sparked discussions about whether dating apps, especially ones like Raya that cater to celebrities, are becoming a new factor in high-profile breakups.
Healing in the Public Eye
Breakups are tough enough when they happen behind closed doors, but when they unfold in the public eye, as Zach Bryan and Brianna LaPaglia’s has, the emotional toll can be even more significant. Both Bryan and LaPaglia are clearly going through a difficult time, with Bryan acknowledging his personal struggles and LaPaglia expressing her deep sense of hurt. As LaPaglia takes a break from social media to process the split, it remains to be seen how the public and media will react as more details emerge.
For now, both individuals are focused on healing in their own way. Bryan’s candid acknowledgment of his imperfections and LaPaglia’s emotional honesty have drawn empathy from their respective fan bases, showing that even celebrities go through the same emotional struggles as everyone else. While the future is uncertain for both, one thing is clear—they’ll each continue to grow from this experience.
