Joey Barton made headlines last week with an 80-word tweet, barely enough to fill a paragraph.
It was his announcement that his appeal against a criminal conviction was “formally underway,” framing it as a stand for free speech.
In typical Barton fashion, it barely made a ripple online — fewer than 1,000 retweets — and attempts to rope in Elon Musk to what he describes as a state-backed conspiracy went nowhere. Musk stayed silent.
From Tweet to Podcast: Barton Keeps Repeating Himself
Undeterred, Barton repeated the announcement on his podcast, Common Sense with Joey Barton, wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with his own image and the words “A so-called criminal opinion.”
A fan jokingly suggested selling the shirt as merch — though in Barton’s world, it wouldn’t be the strangest move yet.
This marks the second time this year that Barton has announced an appeal following a criminal conviction, the first being for a previous assault on his wife.
Legal insiders tell Daily Mail Sport that these appeals can cost at least £40,000 each, steadily eating into his resources.
Mounting Legal Costs and Financial Strain
Barton’s recent Liverpool Crown Court case saw him handed a six-month suspended sentence for attacks on Eni Aluko, Lucy Ward, and Jeremy Vine.
He now joins a long list of celebrities, including Johnny Depp and Rebekah Vardy, who have faced crushing libel costs.
Both Aluko and Vine have successfully won damages against him.
Social media metrics reflect Barton’s declining influence: his follower count has slipped from 2.9 million to 2.5 million, his podcast audience is small, and advertisers are understandably wary.
Combined with payouts like £600,000 to Vine, plus other expected damages, his legal bills could easily exceed £1 million.
Documents from Companies House reveal Barton’s company, Joey Barton Promotions Ltd, is in the red by £76,273, worse than a year ago, and the business bank account shows a mere £16 overdraft.
While other income sources may exist, the numbers paint a picture of financial strain.
Past Earnings and Lifestyle Challenges
Barton’s football career left him with a sizeable nest egg.
Weekly salaries of £60,000 at Newcastle, £35,000 at QPR, and similar pay at Burnley, combined with signing fees and investments, likely brought his total earnings close to £30–40 million.
Yet financial mismanagement and gambling problems have shadowed him throughout.
He was banned from football for 13 months in 2017 due to gambling issues, and personal and legal missteps have continued to mount.
Podcasting and the Search for a New Platform
Barton has poured energy into his podcast, but with just 60,000 YouTube subscribers and roughly 2,000 weekly listeners, it remains niche.
Content has become increasingly eccentric, featuring interviews with conspiracy theorist David Icke and cryptic musings about “higher powers,” AI, and spirituality.
Football commentary has also strayed into controversial territory, with remarks about Liverpool’s Alexander Isak and Belgium’s Vincent Kompany attracting attention.
If Barton hopes to rebuild income through media, he faces a steep uphill battle.
A Baffling Mix of Legal Battles and Fundraising
Recent revelations suggest Barton is struggling to cover his legal costs.
Jeremy Vine noted that Barton asked followers for money while claiming “deep pockets,” offering a confusing mix of fundraising for himself and charitable donations.
Observers see a man increasingly isolated and under financial pressure, yet determined to fight on his own terms.
What Lies Ahead for Joey Barton
Between dwindling finances, a shrinking public profile, and mounting legal cases, Barton’s future looks uncertain.
While he continues to broadcast his views and fight the courts, the combination of past controversies, limited earnings potential, and high-profile legal battles makes this one of the more unusual stories in football and media today.
Wednesday’s podcast might give another glimpse into Barton’s world — but whether it will stabilize his fortunes or fan the flames of chaos remains to be seen.
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