Bryce Harper-FanDuel controversy, explained: Why Phillies star was forced to address resurfaced Cameo video

Bryce Harper-FanDuel controversy, explained: Why Phillies star was forced to address resurfaced Cameo video originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper has found himself in hot water, and the reason why came far away from the diamond.

A Cameo video that the nine-time All-Star previously recorded for a man who amassed a large gambling debt resurfaced, and fans have been questioning why Harper’s inclusion in the ordeal was even allowed.

Harper, an active user on Cameo, was asked by a FanDuel VIP host to create a video for a sportsbettor who had wagered over $18.5 million, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The first baseman has since come out and stated that he was completely unaware of the gambler’s situation or what FanDuel’s intent was.

Here’s the latest on why Harper had to step in after learning what had taken place.

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Bryce Harper-FanDuel controversy

In November 2024, according to ESPN, Harper received a request on Cameo to create a video. Cameo, for those unaware, is a platform that gives people the ability to pay celebrities to record a video and say a message. They’re mainly used to wish someone a happy birthday or send a message around the holiday season.

Bryttanni Morgan of FanDuel Sports used the video service to request Harper’s services in creating a video for a gambler in massive debt. Since his start to gambling on FanDuel several years ago, a gambler named Terry Thompson has wagered over $18.5 million on the sportsbook, which earned him the status of a VIP, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

“Hey, Terry? What’s up, brother? Hey, man, your host Bryttanni from FanDuel wanted to make sure your Thanksgiving was extra special,” Harper said at the beginning of the video request.

After receiving an ample amount of backlash, Harper shared a lengthy statement and also featured the message instructions received from Cameo. The star stated that he was out of the loop in knowing that FanDuel would send this video to a frequent gambler.

Bryce Harper has released a statement about the Cameo video he made that FanDuel sent to a bettor who had lost over $1.5 million on the sportsbook.

“I did not know FanDuel would do this, I did not consent to it, and FanDuel had no right to do it.” pic.twitter.com/H1PNkl1RA0

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) July 13, 2026

“I did not know FanDuel would do this,” Harper wrote. “I did not consent to it, and FanDuel had no right to do it.”

In the past, per The Philadelphia Inquirer, FanDuel offered Thompson various perks and rewards for his sportsbook status, including tickets to watch his favorite Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 57.

According to ESPN, Thompson had sued FanDuel and Morgan in March. The Philadelphia bettor alleged that the sportsbook caused him to become addicted to gambling and to incur $2 million in losses. The lawsuit also mentioned DraftKings, the NFL, and Genius Sports, the NFL’s official data distributor.

“Had I known FanDuel’s true intent, I would not have made the video,” Harper said, per ESPN. “The same is true had I known anything about Terry or his situation, or about any alleged ‘partnership’ between Cameo and FanDuel.”

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Bryce Harper Cameo video

Here is the video Harper was featured in, which was obtained by The Philadelphia Inquirer. According to the site’s editor’s note, a name the Phillie mentioned was censored in order to protect the identity of a minor.

FanDuel laid bare the predatory reality of the commercialized sports betting industry when they took $1.5 million from a Philadelphia fan, then reeled him back in with a personal video from @bryceharper3.

Using the face of the @Phillies to help incentivize a man to lose his… pic.twitter.com/VWpW9jlIYc

— Stop Predatory Gambling (@SPGambling) July 9, 2026

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Who is Terry Thompson?

Terry Thompson is a Philadelphia sports fan who has amassed a large gambling debt while primarily using FanDuel. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Thompson wagered as much as $18.5 million on FanDuel alone.

Thompson’s high amount of gambling wagers earned him a VIP status on the app, which saw him receive many perks from FanDuel, including a video from Harper, Super Bowl tickets, and champagne.

After taking legal action against FanDuel and DraftKings, Thompson has entered a psychiatric facility to undergo treatment for his gambling addiction.