Bryce Harper flat-out denied any intentional hook-up with FanDuel for that crazy Cameo video sent to a gambler who lost millions. Seriously, the guy said Monday he would *never* have filmed that thing if he knew what FanDuel was really up to. This whole mess dropped after The Philadelphia Inquirer spilled the beans, and now Harper is basically saying he got played.
The Inquirer's Deep Dive Into The Cameo Chaos
So, here's how this kicked off. Back on July 9, The Philadelphia Inquirer broke the story that Harper, in November 2024, recorded a personalized video through Cameo for a guy named Terry Thompson. Thompson is a problem gambler, reportedly losing millions through FanDuel. And get this: the video was sent to Thompson as a FanDuel *reward*. A reward for losing millions? Wild. The Inquirer even got their hands on the 21-second video. Harper's in it, calling Thompson by name, shouting out his young son, and thanking him for support. Harper wasn't rocking any FanDuel gear, but the company's logo was splashed all over the video. Harper himself said he was reaching out at the request of Thompson's "VIP manager, 'your host Bryttanni at FanDuel,' who wanted to ensure that Thompson had an 'extra special Thanksgiving.'" The Inquirer also pointed out there's no proof Harper had an official partnership with FanDuel or that he even knew about Thompson's addiction. That's a huge detail, because it shifts the focus hard.Harper Hits Back: "FanDuel Had No Right To Do It"
Harper wasn't having any of it, hitting Instagram Monday to drop his own statement and set the record straight. He said he joined Cameo to connect with fans through paid, personalized videos, not to get tangled in commercial promos. And he's claiming this whole situation "went beyond anything I knew about or approved." Harper says someone named "Bryttanni" submitted an order for a "holiday video for Terry" in November 2024. He stated Cameo has a separate category for business requests, and he had no clue this one would be used commercially. He read the script in good faith. Then, he says, FanDuel slapped their own logo on it and used it as a gambling promotion. His words: "I did not know FanDuel would do this, I did not consent to it, and FanDuel had no right to do it." Boom. He was clear: if he'd known FanDuel's real plan, or anything about Terry's situation, or any alleged partnership between Cameo and FanDuel, he wouldn't have made the video. He's totally denying any affiliation with FanDuel or knowing it was for a VIP promotion. Oh, and here's the kicker: his counsel has told him to keep quiet now. That tells you everything about how serious this has gotten. So, what happens now? Harper, usually an open book, is under wraps, directed by his legal team to stay silent. This whole mess shines a huge light on the murky waters between athletes, fan engagement platforms like Cameo, and the booming online sports-betting world. With MLB players allowed to endorse betting companies, but not promote gambling on baseball directly, these lines are getting blurrier. What's next for Harper? That's the big question, and for now, it seems like we'll just have to wait and see.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.