PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper is pushing back after discovering that the online sportsbook FanDuel used a personal video he recorded through the Cameo app as a reward for a high-spending customer — without his knowledge or approval.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported last week that a man named Terry Thompson had placed $18.5 million in wagers with FanDuel and was eventually given a customized video from Harper as a VIP perk. In the recording, Harper called Thompson by name and even referenced his young son.
On Monday, Harper posted a screenshot of the original Cameo request on social media, making clear he had been kept in the dark about who was actually behind it.
“Had I known FanDuel’s true intent, I would not have made the video,” Harper stated. “The same is true had I known anything about Terry or his situation.”
The video itself carried FanDuel’s logo, and in it, Harper said he was reaching out at the request of Thompson’s VIP manager on the site — referring to “your host Bryttanni at FanDuel.”
Harper made his feelings even clearer in a social media post Monday, writing: “I did not know FanDuel would do this. I did not consent to it, and FanDuel had no right to do it.”
He posted those comments just hours before he was set to take part in the Home Run Derby.
According to the Inquirer, Thompson lost $1.5 million, a figure cited in a lawsuit filed in March by the Public Health Advocacy Institute in Common Pleas Court in Philadelphia. The suit names both FanDuel and DraftKings as defendants and was brought on Thompson’s behalf. Thompson is also reported to have lost money through DraftKings.
When asked to respond, FanDuel issued a statement saying the company is “committed to fostering a culture of responsible gaming and protecting our customers.”
“Unlike illegal offshore sportsbooks, FanDuel employees are trained to recognize and flag signs of problem gambling and offer resources and tools, and we continue to review and strengthen our policies to ensure we have the industry’s strongest consumer protection initiatives,” the company added.
