Zach Bryan’s Ex Brianna LaPaglia Is Putting 'My Mental Health First,' Announces Podcast Hiatus After Breakup

Fresh off her headline-making breakup with country singer Zach Bryan, Brianna LaPaglia is stepping back from her popular podcast "BFFs" to prioritize her mental health.

The breakup stirred up attention, especially as Bryan quickly followed it by announcing a new breakup song.

Zach Bryan's ex, Brianna LaPaglia, is now all about needing to "prioritize the right things," and fans are solidly behind her. 

The duo went their separate ways just months after their red carpet debut at the Grammys, but it seems the breakup is hitting "hard" for LaPaglia.

In a candid message to fans, the "BFFs" podcast co-host—known as "Chickenfry" to her followers—announced a brief pause on her podcast as she takes time to process the sudden split and prioritize her mental health.

"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 shared with her TikTok followers. 

She emphasized, "I am going to put my mental health first this week," before adding that her co-hosts, Josh Richards and Dave Portnoy, are supporting her decision, urging her to do what is best for her well-being.

Though fans were eager for a new episode, the podcaster clarified that her mental health must come first. "I need to prioritize the right things this week. I hope you can all understand," she concluded.

After her TikTok announcement, which was captioned, "See you all next week," her fans quickly stepped in to show their unwavering support. Messages flooded in, each encouraging the influencer to prioritize her well-being during this difficult time.

"You should do whatever you need to do. Lean into your friends," one fan wrote, praising her choice and co-host Dave Portnoy's open support. 

Another person wrote, "Not everyone can do it with a broken heart. And that's okay your time Ik I'll be here for whatever when you come back," while a third added, "Take however much time you need. Self-care comes first!"

Others echoed the call for self-care, urging her to rest and return when ready. "Take care of you, Bri!! You got this and you are loved," one follower reminded her.

It is clear that LaPaglia's fans are behind her, like this netizen, who encouraged, "Hope things start looking good for you!!"

LaPaglia's emotional response is coming after she took to YouTube to address her shock over Bryan's abrupt announcement of their split. The 25-year-old claimed that he revealed their breakup publicly without first giving her a heads-up.

In a raw, three-minute video titled "Love you guys, I'll be back soon," LaPaglia sat on her bathroom floor to share her heartbreak with fans. 

The TV personality expressed that she woke up to a flood of concerned messages after Bryan's post, admitting, "He didn't text me, he didn't call me. I just woke up to a bunch of texts, like, 'Are you okay?'" 

Fighting through tears, LaPaglia shared that she had hoped to heal in private, noting that she never intended for the breakup to be announced so quickly. "I'm just really, really hurt right now," she said, requesting privacy as she processed the unexpected end of her relationship.

LaPaglia's emotional breakup video sparked a wave of mixed reactions from her followers. One viewer sympathized with the podcast co-host, writing:

"You gave him a chance to prove that he could be loyal and good when, in his past relationships, he showed that he wasn't. I totally feel your pain; you saw the best in him, and everyone could tell you truly loved him. You'll get through it."

Another fan encouraged, "It's not embarrassing. You love hard. You deserve the world. I hope the negativity doesn't overshadow the support. We love you."

Some, however, questioned the situation's details. "if you were crying for 5 days straight why wouldn't he post that you broke up when that's whathappened. Why is that blindsiding?" one person wondered.

Amid mixed opinions, one supporter summed up the general sentiment: "Oh honey, you've been through so much with this relationship. You're so strong."

In the wake of his split from LaPaglia, the country singer channeled his feelings into music. Last week, The Blast reported that the country star shared a clip on Instagram, hinting at an emotional new track inspired by the relationship.

The brief, one-minute video captioned "Recall when we went to Rockaway Beach, summer heat in eastern Queens, and a subway ride" showed Bryan at a piano, playing a melancholic tune as he sang along. 

Although the sound strays from his typical style, fans are eagerly anticipating the full release, even though they could not share their thoughts since he disabled comments on the post.

What will be next for Brianna LaPaglia and Zach Bryan?