Troopz, the loud Arsenal superfan who became a YouTube‑era cult figure through AFTV, first joined Barstool Sports in late 2020 as part of the outlet’s push into soccer content.
He moved to New York, launched his own podcast, Back Again, and quickly became one of the more recognizable faces in Barstool’s soccer lineup, doing watch‑alongs, fan‑cam-style rants, and cross‑country trips with American fans.
In August 2023, he announced on his YouTube channel that he was leaving Barstool, framing it as a natural evolution rather than a breakup.
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He thanked key figures like Dave Portnoy, producer Jetz, and Barstool’s then‑CEO Erica Shaffer, stressing that there was “no animosity” and that he was returning to London to run his own operation full time. To fans, it looked like a guy cashing in on his global platform and going independent, not someone being pushed out.
The Unwritten Tensions Behind the Split
Despite the friendly public tone, reports from sports media outlets suggest the relationship had started to fray before his exit.
One recurring theme was availability: Troopz remained based in London, while Barstool expected a stronger physical presence in New York and on the road, which reportedly created friction over how often he showed up for studio work and events.
There were also concerns about his behavior and its alignment with Barstool’s image. Coverage from sports‑media blogs points to a sense that he was seen as ungrateful or difficult to manage, especially after Barstool had invested in him and given him a high‑profile platform.
Some commentary notes that Dave Portnoy, who regained full control of Barstool around that time, appeared to view Troopz as a misfit, with one outlet describing him as “basically an ungrateful rat” and suggesting Portnoy disliked him personally.
Compounding that, Troopz’s Arsenal allegiance sat awkwardly with Portnoy’s public support for Tottenham, which already had its own on‑air personality at Barstool. That dynamic made it easier for the company to walk away if his conduct or commitment ever felt shaky.
Controversy, Culture, and the Cost of Being “Too Real”
Beyond internal politics, Troopz’s public persona brought its own complications. In 2023, a clip surfaced of him shouting at his wife during an Arsenal watch‑along after the team conceded to Manchester City, which Barstool initially shared with a joking caption before deleting it.
Fans and critics called the moment “toxic” and “vile,” arguing that even if it was framed as banter, it normalized aggressive behavior toward a partner.
That incident, and similar outbursts, fed into a broader debate about whether outlets like Barstool reward volatility over accountability.
For a brand built on edgy, unfiltered content, walking the line between “raw authenticity” and outright toxicity has become a recurring problem, and Troopz’s exit landed in the middle of that conversation.
His departure, then, looks less like a simple contract decision and more like a collision between a chaotic individual and a company trying to recalibrate its image and internal culture.
Today, Troopz is back in London running his own channels and collaborations, while Barstool continues to reshape its soccer roster under Portnoy’s tighter grip.
What started as a flashy transatlantic hire now reads like a cautionary tale about how hard it is to scale a particular kind of personality across different markets, time zones, and expectations.
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