Bryce Harper Denies Knowingly Making Cameo Video for FanDuel Promotion Amid Fan Lawsuit

Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper is disputing reports that he knowingly recorded a promotional video for the sports betting platform FanDuel, after the clip surfaced as part of a lawsuit filed by a customer who says the company exploited his gambling addiction.

The Philadelphia Inquirer first reported the story on July 9, revealing that Harper had recorded a 21-second video through the celebrity messaging platform Cameo in November 2024 for a FanDuel VIP bettor named Terry Thompson. The video, which the Inquirer obtained, features the FanDuel logo and shows Harper wishing Thompson and his son a happy Thanksgiving on behalf of Thompson’s “host” at the company.

Thompson filed a lawsuit in March in Philadelphia’s Court of Common Pleas against FanDuel and DraftKings, alleging the companies took advantage of his gambling addiction. According to the complaint, filed on his behalf by the Public Health Advocacy Institute, Thompson wagered approximately $18.5 million with FanDuel since 2020, losing $1.5 million on the platform and another $336,000 on DraftKings.

Harper addressed the controversy Monday in a statement posted to his Instagram account, ahead of his scheduled appearance at that night’s Home Run Derby in Philadelphia. He said he joined Cameo to make paid personalized videos for fans and that “what happened here went beyond anything I knew about or approved.”

According to Harper, the order was placed by someone identifying only as “Bryttanni” requesting a personal “holiday video for Terry,” and he read the accompanying script in good faith without realizing it would be used for commercial purposes. He said FanDuel later added its own logo to the footage and used it as a promotional tool without his knowledge or consent, adding that he has no affiliation with the company and would not have made the video had he known its true purpose.

However, several outlets have pointed out a wrinkle in that explanation: the script Harper read on camera explicitly referenced FanDuel, naming Thompson’s “host Bryttanni from FanDuel.” Harper posted a screenshot of the original Cameo instructions alongside his statement.

FanDuel said in a statement that it is committed to fostering responsible gaming and trains employees to recognize signs of problem gambling, though it did not directly address Harper’s account.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board confirmed it is reviewing the video but declined to elaborate. Neither the Phillies nor Major League Baseball has commented on the matter. Under MLB’s collective bargaining agreement, players may partner with sportsbooks but are barred from authorizing the use of their name or likeness to directly promote gambling.

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Article by Erik Meers