Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper is pushing back against FanDuel after discovering the sportsbook used a video he recorded through Cameo as part of a VIP promotion — without his knowledge or approval.
In a statement shared on Instagram Monday, Harper made clear he never would have recorded the video if he had known FanDuel’s real intentions. “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.”
The customer at the center of the controversy, Terry Thompson, filed a lawsuit in March against FanDuel, his VIP host Bryttanni Morgan, DraftKings, the NFL, and the league’s official data distributor, Genius Sports. Thompson’s suit alleges the sportsbooks fueled his gambling addiction and caused him to lose roughly $2 million in wagers.
Harper said he received the Cameo request back in November 2024, asking him to read a script for what was described as a personal holiday video for someone named Terry. He even shared a screenshot of the original Cameo instructions in his Instagram post, which read: “Hey Terry, Your host Bryttanni from FanDuel wanted to make sure your Thanksgiving was extra special so I just wanted to hop on and wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving. Tell Max (son) I said hello.”
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the finished video featured Harper saying, “Hey, Terry? What’s up, brother? Hey, man, your host Bryttanni from FanDuel wanted to make sure your Thanksgiving was extra special.”
Harper noted in his statement that Cameo has a separate category specifically for business video requests, and he was unaware the message to Terry would be used for any commercial or promotional purpose.
“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,” Harper wrote. “I did not know FanDuel would do this. I did not consent to it, and FanDuel had no right to do it.”
Under MLB rules, players are permitted to work with sportsbooks on promotions, provided those promotions do not encourage betting on baseball or involve the unauthorized use of a player’s name, number, image, or likeness.
Harper was direct about his relationship with the company: “I have no affiliation with FanDuel whatsoever.”
Thompson’s lawsuit also alleges that VIP host Morgan encouraged him to place larger bets by offering him gifts and special perks, including tickets and hotel accommodations for the Super Bowl.
In a previous statement to ESPN, FanDuel said its employees “are trained to recognize and flag signs of problem gambling and offer resources and tools,” adding that the company continues to review and strengthen its consumer protection policies.
Harper said he joined Cameo as a way to connect with fans through paid, personalized video messages — not to be used in gambling advertisements. “What happened here went beyond anything I knew about or approved,” he said.
