Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia is displaying that breakups might develop into a possibility for private {and professional} reinvention.
Contemporary off her high-profile break up from musician Zach Bryan in October, LaPaglia graced the January digital cowl of Sports activities Illustrated Swimsuit. As she defined to the outlet, it was her approach of “reclaiming who I’m as a girl, reclaiming my physique and my selections and my selections.”
The duvet arrived shortly after LaPaglia turned heads on the Golden Globes in a metallic robe with a plunging neckline that was rapidly dubbed her “revenge gown.” The look was seen as a daring assertion not solely on her breakup with Bryan but in addition on the fallout with former greatest pal and PlanBri Uncut podcast cohost, Grace O’Malley.
Based on public relations consultants, each the Sports activities Illustrated cowl and the Golden Globes gown counsel that LaPaglia is making strategic use of each moments.
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“She’s making the best strikes,” publicist Matthew Cancel, CEO and founding father of Cancel Communications, instructed Yahoo Leisure, noting that LaPaglia has gone as far as to alter her hair shade barely and is “dressing a bit bit in a different way” to outwardly match her inner shift.
“She’s reclaiming lots of what she feels wasn’t hers, whether or not it was a relationship within the public eye with a rustic music star or a podcast with the most effective pal,” he added. “While you’re a star, all the pieces is about branding. So all of that’s simply sort of amplified. You need to preserve it contemporary, preserve it attention-grabbing, preserve your fan base hungry and excited for extra.”
LaPaglia echoed these sentiments herself in her Sports activities Illustrated interview, calling the quilt “my favourite f*** you” to Bryan, who she claimed pressured her to not work with the model throughout their relationship.
“This cowl is me being me once more and taking management of my life,” she instructed the outlet. “That is my physique; my physique isn’t that have, and though I’m not 100% in it proper now, that is me.”
A story of two breakups
LaPaglia’s life took a dramatic flip in late 2024 after two main breakups — one with Bryan and one other with O’Malley.
After ending her yearlong relationship with Bryan in October, LaPaglia alleged on her BFFs podcast that he supplied her $12 million and a New York Metropolis residence to remain silent about their time collectively. She refused and spoke brazenly in regards to the relationship as an alternative, calling it controlling and emotionally abusive — claims Bryan has not but addressed publicly.
Her fallout with O’Malley solely added to the drama. LaPaglia accused her former PlanBri Uncut cohost of failing to defend her through the Bryan breakup and on-line backlash. The strain led to the podcast’s finish, with LaPaglia calling it a mutual resolution, although O’Malley claimed in any other case.
In December, LaPaglia introduced plans to revive PlanBri, whereas O’Malley left Barstool Sports activities and joined Alex Cooper’s Unwell Community, marking the top of their friendship and collaboration.
Rebranding after breakups is hard enterprise
Based on consultants, LaPaglia’s latest strikes are a primary instance of turning private challenges into skilled alternatives.
“These moments permit her to ship a transparent message: she’s accountable for her story, not outlined by relationships or fallout,” Liza Anderson, Hollywood publicist and founding father of Anderson Group Public Relations, instructed Yahoo Leisure.
The idea of utilizing trend to make a daring public assertion after a breakup is not new, however when executed authentically, Anderson mentioned it may well resonate deeply with audiences. “It humanizes her, making her relatable, whereas additionally empowering her followers to view setbacks as alternatives,” she mentioned.
Public relations skilled, Carolyn Sutton, agrees, telling Yahoo Leisure that rebranding after a breakup isn’t just about “erasing the previous, however about embracing your development and redefining what you need to your future.”
That is very true for younger girls, Sutton added, when “reinvention begins by aligning your private picture with the assured, empowered particular person you’re turning into. It’s an opportunity to develop into extra open, vibrant and, maybe, debut your true self.”
Bryan and LaPaglia on the Grammy Awards, October 2024. (Gilbert Flores/Billboard through Getty Pictures)
However rebranding may be difficult, particularly for public figures like LaPaglia and Bryan, whose relationship helped elevate their respective careers.
“Her superstar profile rose when she began courting Zach Bryan as a result of he was a standard superstar inside the nation music area,” mentioned Cancel. “That solidified her in lots of methods. Earlier than that, she was solely generally known as a TikToker or a podcaster,” including that her relationship with Bryan could have helped “break her out” to a brand new fanbase.
A fragile stability
Whereas followers appear to be applauding LaPaglia’s potential to pivot, historical past exhibits that rebranding via private drama generally is a double-edged sword. Stars like Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus have efficiently reclaimed their narratives after breakups, however Cancel warns that such strikes should align with a bigger narrative.
“It is solely going to backfire if you happen to overlook your fanbase,” he defined. “For those who’re a pop star identified for making a sure kind of music and then you definitely’re like, ‘I am gonna chop all my hair off,’ ‘I am not gonna make that music anymore,’ ‘I’m now a rock artist’ or no matter it’s, then you definitely’re fully alienating the fanbase that made you well-known within the first place.”
That doesn’t appear to be the case for LaPaglia, added Anderson.
“For Brianna, who has all the time been outspoken, relatable and unfiltered, this rebranding feels pure reasonably than compelled,” she defined. “It is a sensible strategy to present resilience and evolution — qualities her viewers seemingly admires.”
Nonetheless, it is necessary to strike the best stability. “A rebranding technique can backfire if it feels overly manufactured or if it pushes the narrative into overexposure,” mentioned Anderson. “When the main focus shifts from reclaiming to overcompensating, there’s a threat of alienating audiences who worth authenticity.”
At the very least for now, LaPaglia seems decided to chart her personal course.
“It’s a story as outdated as time,” mentioned Cancel. “Everyone desires to begin a brand new life, a brand new chapter, after a breakup. They reevaluate the folks round them, how they had been behaving in a relationship.”
He added, “Celebrities are human too.”
