Bryce Harper Breaks Silence on Controversial Video Sent to Fan with $1.8 Million in Gambling Debt

NEED TO KNOW

• Phillies star Bryce Harper said he was not aware FanDuel would use a video he made on Cameo in 2024 for promotional purposes after it was revealed a personalized message was sent to a bettor in nearly $2 million debt
• Harper said he “did not consent to” making a promo video and that FanDuel “had no right to” use the video for those purposes
• According to USA Today, Harper’s price for a Cameo jumps from $899 for fans to $9,999 for businesses

Bryce Harper is speaking out about the controversial video sent to a fan who lost $1.8 million gambling with FanDuel.

Harper, 34, explained his side of the ordeal in a lengthy post on Instagram after an article published in July by the Philadelphia Inquirer exposed a personalized video message sent to a man named Terry Thompson, who had reportedly spent $18.5 million betting with FanDuel.

Harper said he made the video after being sent the request on Cameo, a platform where stars create custom clips for fans, and was not been informed that it would be used as promotion for FanDuel. “In response to a recent article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, I want to provide the following facts,” Harper began in his Instagram Story on Monday, July 13.

“I joined Cameo to engage with fans through paid personalized videos. What happened here went beyond anything I knew about or approved. In November 2024, someone identifying themselves only as ‘Bryttanni’ submitted an order through Cameo for a perusal ‘holiday video for Terry.’”

Harper claimed the app “had a separate category for business video requests, and at the time I did not know this video would be used for commercial purposes.” He continued: “The request included a short script. I read it in good faith. FanDuel then put its own logo on the video and used it as a gambling promotion. I did not know FanDuel would do this, I did not consent to it, and FanDuel had no right to do it.”

According to The Athletic, the video was branded with the betting giant’s logo.

“Had I known FanDuel’s true intent, I would not have made the video,” Harper wrote. “The same is true had I known anything about Terry or his situation, or about any alleged ‘partnership’ between Cameo and FanDuel. Contrary to the inquirer’s suggestion, I did not know the Cameo video would be used for a FanDuel VIP promotion, and I have no affiliation with FanDuel whatsoever. Counsel has directed me not to comment any further at this time.”

Front Office Sports reportedly confirmed that FanDuel and Cameo have a partnership that permits Cameo videos to be purchased for FanDuel VIP bettors.

In a second post on his Instagram Story Monday, Harper showed a screenshot of the original Cameo request. The “instructions” for Harper read, “Hey Terry, Your host Bryttanni (Britt-Knee) from FanDuel wanted to make sure your Thanksgiving was extra special, so I just wanted to hop own and wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving. Tell Max (son) I said hello.” Harper was advised he “can add his own personal touches to the above as well.”

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Reactions to Harper’s statement were mixed by fans. In response to a post shared Monday on X by Front Office Sports, which highlighted Harper’s latest Instagram Story slides, some pointed out that the original description does say it’s from FanDuel, while others note the app had a designated process specifically for business requests.

According to USA Today, Harper’s rate for a video on Cameo jumps from the $899 price for fans to $9,999 for businesses. What’s more, Cameo grants talent the opportunity to decline video requests.

A rep for FanDuel did not immediately return PEOPLE’s request for comment on Monday.

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