Zach Bryan Faces Backlash Over New Girlfriend’s Resemblance to Ex
A Familiar Face in Spain
In July, photos of Zach Bryan at Spain’s Running of the Bulls surfaced online, showing him with his new girlfriend, Samantha Leonard. What might have been a simple relationship reveal quickly turned controversial when fans noticed Leonard looked strikingly similar to Bryan’s ex, Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia.
The resemblance sparked a wave of commentary. Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, compared side-by-side images of Leonard and LaPaglia on his podcast, calling the likeness “insane.” Reddit users chimed in, with many describing Leonard as a “clone” of LaPaglia. Portnoy even joked, “He built a Brianna 2.0 in the lab.”
Tensions With Brianna LaPaglia
Bryan’s history with LaPaglia has been anything but quiet. The two split in 2024 after a turbulent relationship marked by accusations and controversy. Reports claim LaPaglia rejected a £10 million (~$13 million USD) NDA meant to silence her after the breakup.
Bryan later released the track “River Washed Hair,” which many fans believe takes aim at LaPaglia. The feud deepened when Bryan posted — and later deleted — a video of himself burning a Barstool Sports flag and driving a golf ball off it. Since LaPaglia works for Portnoy’s company, the stunt was widely viewed as a direct dig.
Portnoy fired back, calling Bryan “a lunatic” and “crazy” for the bizarre gesture.
Online Reactions: “Scary” Similarities
The internet has been relentless in its response. Comments on Reddit and Twitter describe the resemblance between Leonard and LaPaglia as “actually crazy” and even “scary.”
Some users compared the situation to Kanye West’s controversial relationships after Kim Kardashian, accusing Bryan of intentionally seeking out a partner who looked like his ex.
Portnoy echoed the sentiment, questioning both Bryan and Leonard:
“This guy is an absolute psychopath. How do you even find that person? And what is that girl thinking?”
Beyond Just Dating Drama
While the new relationship fuels speculation, the controversy speaks to a bigger picture: Zach Bryan’s ongoing public feuds, provocative posts, and messy breakup history. LaPaglia continues to maintain she turned down millions to keep quiet, while Bryan seems determined to poke the bear with both his music and online antics.
The resemblance between Leonard and LaPaglia has now become the central talking point, overshadowing Bryan’s career highs and sparking the question many fans are asking:
👉 Did Zach Bryan intentionally find a “clone” of his ex — or is it just coincidence?