Brianna Chickenfry to Pause "BFFs" Podcast for a Week amid Split from Zach Bryan: 'Put My Mental Health First'

https://people.com/thmb/T7_zDgDSfkr4F218NkQdLBnhJPM=/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/brianna-chickenfry-dances-on-tiktok-amongst-bf-arrest-090823-tout-058ea36756954538a6552b8dee03bd06.jpg

"I'm having a week from hell," the influencer and host said

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty; Michael Hickey/Getty

Brianna Chickenfry; Zach Bryan

Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia is temporarily stepping back from podcasting to process her recent breakup with Zach Bryan.

On Wednesday, Oct. 30, the influencer, 25, shared an announcement to the TikTok account of the BFFs podcast she co-hosts with Dave Portnoy and Josh Richards.

"Hey guys! We tried to record this week but I am having a very hard time figuring out how I want to handle this publicly due to all the backlash," LaPaglia began. "I am going to put my mental health first this week. 

She added that her co-hosts were supportive of her decision, saying they wanted to "make sure I do what's best for me."

"See you all next week," she captioned the post. 

Related: Dave Portnoy Responds to BFF Co-Host Brianna Chickenfry's Breakup from Zach Bryan with Pointed Taylor Swift Song

After going public with their relationship in July 2023, the country singer, 28, announced their breakup on social media on Oct. 22.

"I have had an incredibly hard year personally and struggled through some pretty severe things. I thought it would be beneficial for both of us to go our different ways," Bryan wrote, in part, on his Instagram Stories. "I am not perfect and never will be. Please respect Brianna's privacy and space in this and if you have it in your heart, mine too."

Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty

Zach Bryan and Bri LaPaglia aka "Brianna Chickenfry" — 2024 Grammys

According to LaPaglia, the news took her by surprise. 

"I just woke up to Zach posting on his Instagram that we broke up and I had no idea that post was going up. He didn't text me, he didn't call me. I just woke up to a bunch of texts, like, 'Are you okay?' " she said that same day in a three-minute video uploaded to her Plan Bri UnCut YouTube account.

"This is so embarrassing," she added in the emotional clip.

On Wednesday, LaPaglia further addressed her mental health after claiming to have received negative feedback for not publicly wishing Grace O'Malley a happy birthday after the two had a tense exchange during an Oct. 8 episode of Plan Bri Uncut.

Brianna Chickenfry/instagram

Brianna Chickenfry posts online

The conversation centered around O'Malley mentioning that she would be returning to Atlantic City for a comedy show when LaPaglia told listeners that the ladies were just 16 the last time they were there together, adding, "I hope it ends better."

Without going into detail, LaPaglia said, "It was really bad," adding that young "girls shouldn't hang out with the divorced men at the bar."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"I haven't had TikTok in months. But apparently all anyone does on there is talk about my life," LaPaglia wrote on her Instagram Stories on Wednesday.

"So here ya go, I'm not interested in sharing my personal relationships online anymore because the internet wants so badly to ruin them all. Grace has been like a sister since I was 15 years old. I wished her a happy birthday privately. I'm sorry but I'm having a week from hell and I'm tired of having to feel the need to explain myself to people who don't know me. Love ya guys and that's all there is to it."

In a second post, the influencer added, "Not allowing the internet to take over my personal relationships anymore. Need to set some boundaries and keep some things for myself."

×