Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner released a political advertisement criticizing the Boston Red Sox ownership and the influence of private equity in American life. The ad aired during a Red Sox broadcast on NESN but was reportedly pulled during the fourth inning. In the ad, Platner stated that private equity is negatively impacting homes, hospitals, and local businesses, and he framed himself as a candidate opposing corporate consolidation in sports.
Platner claimed that the ad was removed because the Red Sox owns the network. He shared that his campaign aimed to confront private equity interests associated with the Red Sox organization. However, the situation escalated when Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy publicly shared emails from Platner's team seeking coverage from Barstool before the ad's launch.
Portnoy redirected the conversation to Platner's past controversies, particularly a tattoo linked to Nazi imagery. In an email exchange, Portnoy referred to Platner as the "Nazi guy" and expressed skepticism about engaging with him. He later posted parts of the exchange on social media, questioning why Platner's team thought he would want to collaborate with someone he perceived as having Nazi associations.
Platner previously faced backlash for a tattoo resembling the Nazi "Totenkopf" symbol, which he attributed to a poor decision made while serving as a Marine. He has denied any connection to Nazism and described himself as opposed to antisemitism and racism. The controversy surrounding his tattoo and other inflammatory remarks has drawn significant attention to his campaign, overshadowing traditional Senate political issues.