Michael Porter Jr. shocked by Disney star ex-girlfriend’s ‘psychopath’ claims

Nypost · May 05, 2026 · 343 words · By Jenna Lemoncelli

Public Reputation Management Celebrity Relationship Conflict

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said his personal life took a hit when his ex, former Disney Channel star Madison Pettis, publicly called him a “psychopath.” Porter responded to Pettis’ comments after she opened the floodgates on their relationship during a March appearance on the “In Your…

Claims checked 10

Techniques found 2

Topics 2

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center50%

Right50%

2 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

I wasn’t feeling that at all because, bro, we dated for what, three months, and nothing happened crazy,” Porter said during a Monday appearance on the “One Night with Steiny” podcast with internet personalities Aaron Steinberg and Celina Powell.

Common ground

“I don’t know why 10 years later she’s getting on a podcast talking about, ‘He’s a psychopath.’ She’s scaring all the jawns away.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Name Calling / Labeling: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Public Reputation Management story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Porter, who won a championship with Denver in 2023?
How does this story connect Public Reputation Management with Celebrity Relationship Conflict over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/05/05/sports/michael-porter-jr-shocked-by-disney-star-ex…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 70% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Name Calling / Labeling 90% confidence

Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.

Why it matters: Recognizing name calling / labeling helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 10 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 3

check_circle Corroborated 3

verified Verified By Reference 2

help Insufficient Evidence 2

info

Claim 1: “Porter, who won a championship with Denver in 2023”

SINGLE SOURCE

The evidence provided for this claim is about the Archangel Michael and is completely irrelevant to the basketball player Michael Porter Jr.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The archangel Michael battles wicked angels and wages war with the Devil. Is Jesus himself the archangel Michael? The Bible reveals the answer.
https://www.jw.org/en/library/books/bible-teach/who-is-micha…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Who Is the Archangel Michael? The Bible’s answer Michael, referred to by some religions as “Saint Michael,” is evidently a name given to Jesus before and after his life on earth. a Michael disputed wi…
https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/archangel-mi…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Michael was called “the prince of [Daniel’s] people,” “the great prince who is standing in behalf of the sons of [Daniel’s] people.” (Da 10:13, 20, 21; 12:1) This points to Michael as the angel who le…
https://www.jw.org/en/library/books/Insight-on-the-Scripture…

info

Claim 2: “Pettis, who did not name her ex, dated Porter from 2016 through mid-2017”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of generic news links for the city of Madison, Wisconsin, and does not contain information regarding the dates of the relationship.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Read the latest Madison, WI news. Get the latest on Wisconsin weather, sports, and things to do.
https://madison.com/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Find Madison WI news, weather, things to do and sports.
https://madison.com/news/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Read the latest Madison, and Dane County, Wisconsin, news from Madison.com. Get breaking headlines, local weather, entertainment, events, and more.
https://madison.com/news/local/

check_circle

Claim 3: “Porter said during a Monday appearance on the “One Night with Steiny” podcast with internet personalities Aaron Steinberg and Celina Powell.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources (Sporting News, Defector, and others) confirm Porter Jr. appeared on the 'One Night with Steiny' podcast with Andrew Steinberg.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Much of the attention around Michael Porter Jr.’s appearance this week on “One Night with Steiny,” an L.A.-based podcast that specializes in the NBA, was on his discussion of the dangers of sports bet…
https://sports.yahoo.com/article/essay-brooklyn-nets-problem…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — As for the specifics: Porter. Jr. joined Andrew "Steiny" Steinberg and a malignant lurker identified as Bob on Steinberg's show One Night With Steiny, which is largely dedicated to Steinberg asking po…
https://defector.com/michael-porter-jr-is-the-incredibly-dum…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Michael Porter Jr. knows what he wants in a woman, and it's not just good looks. The Brooklyn Nets star is hoping to find a domestic wife that brings "something to the table." Appearing on the Tuesday…
https://www.sportingnews.com/us/culture/relationships/news/n…

verified

Claim 4: “Nets forward Michael Porter Jr.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia explicitly states that Michael Porter Jr. is a professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets.

travel_explore

help

Claim 5: “his address was leaked by Powell.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results to confirm or deny that Celina Powell leaked his address.

check_circle

Claim 6: “former Disney Channel star Madison Pettis, publicly called him a “psychopath.””

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources (Basketball Network, and other web results) confirm that Madison Pettis called Michael Porter Jr. a 'psychopath'.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Read the latest Madison, WI news. Get the latest on Wisconsin weather, sports, and things to do.
https://madison.com/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Find Madison WI news, weather, things to do and sports.
https://madison.com/news/

travel_explore

info

Claim 7: “they met when Pettis messaged him after seeing Steph Curry give him a birthday shoutout on Instagram.”

SINGLE SOURCE

Only the Basketball Network source mentions the specific detail about the Instagram message following a Steph Curry birthday shoutout; other sources confirm they dated but not the specific meeting mechanism.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Michael Lamar Porter Jr., also known as "MPJ", is an American professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association. He played college basketball for the Missouri…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Porter_Jr.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Actress Madison Pettis talks about dating Michael Porter Jr. when he was in college.But as Porter revealed, they followed each other on Instagram after their first meeting. And because he had a crush …
https://www.basketballnetwork.net/off-the-court/madison-pett…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Madison Pettis. Image via: madisonpettis/Instagram.Pettis explained that she often watches games through NBA League Pass and follows the league closely. Madison Pettis called Michael Porter Jr. a ‘psy…
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/nba/top-stories/w…

help

Claim 8: “was traded to the Nets last June.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results to confirm or deny the trade to the Nets in June.

check_circle

Claim 9: “Pettis’ comments after she opened the floodgates on their relationship during a March appearance on the “In Your Dreams With Owen Thiele” podcast.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm Madison Pettis appeared on the 'In Your Dreams With Owen Thiele' podcast in March to discuss her relationship with Porter Jr.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Madison Pettis Condemns Ex Michael Porter Jr. While Discussing Past Relationship.Pettis was the guest on a March 6 episode of the "In Your Dreams With Owen Thiele" podcast and made a powerful comment …
https://www.si.com/onsi/athlete-lifestyle/news/michael-porte…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Madison Pettis called Michael Porter Jr. a ‘psychopath’. During the podcast discussion, host Owen Thiele asked Pettis whether she could see herself dating another athlete.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/nba/top-stories/w…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Disney actress Madison Pettis revealed on the podcast that she broke up with Michael Porter Jr. before he played in the NBA because MPJ was a psychopath.
https://www.basketballnetwork.net/off-the-court/madison-pett…

verified

Claim 10: “the Denver Nuggets selected him with the No. 14 overall pick in the in 2018 NBA Draft.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and other sports data sources confirm Michael Porter Jr. was selected 14th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The 2018 NBA Draft was held on June 21, 2018, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur United States college basketball players and …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_NBA_draft

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The site owner hides the web page description.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BkTsAE3HjlX/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Michael Porter Jr. was drafted by Denver Nuggets, 1st round (14th pick, 14th overall), 2018 NBA Draft. What position does Michael Porter Jr. play? Small Forward.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/portemi01.htm…

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.